Two American aircraft carriers, the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald Ford, are stationed off the coast of Iran, along with destroyers, bombers, and air defense systems, gathered in the Gulf in recent weeks. Tens of thousands of soldiers are also present in military bases throughout the region. This is Trump’s method: showing military strength to pressure Iran to negotiate, as talks on nuclear issues between the two countries in Geneva this week have yielded nothing.
According to Stéphane Audrand, an independent consultant on geopolitical risks, the American deployment is “massive and complex.” “It shows that Americans want both great firepower and many different military options,” he said. “For now, there are no signs of a campaign to overthrow the Tehran regime, which would require ground troops,” the expert explained.
The American soldiers will likely be ready to act as early as this weekend, as the decision rests with Donald Trump, who has given himself 10 days to reach an agreement with Tehran. Otherwise, he warned that “bad things” would happen. On Friday, February 20, the American billionaire stated that he was considering “a limited strike against Iran,” which may disappoint his most ardent supporters who elected him for his anti-interventionist America First agenda.
In June 2025, Donald Trump had ordered the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites during the twelve-day war triggered by Israel. Faced with the threat of a new attack, the mullahs’ regime indicated that a peace plan would be submitted to the United States within two to three days. However, Tehran’s joint exercises with Russia in the Strait of Hormuz suggest that the country is also preparing for war.
The external threat adds to the continued intense and bloody internal repression in Iran. It continues to target Iranians who dare to defy the regime, even by attending the commemorations of citizens killed during the January protests.
The Iranian population continues to keep alive the memory of people like Alireza Seydi, a teenager killed by Iranian police gunfire. In Abadane, in the southwest of the country, a violent commemoration was held for him this week, as evidenced by numerous videos shared on social media.
