Two carriers. Hundreds of cargo flights. Indirect talks in Geneva. Is this leverage — or the brink of war?

The United States is rapidly expanding its military footprint in the Middle East ahead of high-stakes nuclear negotiations with Iran in Geneva, signaling that diplomacy is proceeding under the shadow of force.

According to multiple officials familiar with the preparations, U.S. air and naval assets are being repositioned to provide President Donald Trump with a range of strike options should talks collapse.

The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is already in the region, while the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is en route. Fighter squadrons, refueling tankers and advanced air defense systems are being moved closer to potential operational theaters.

Satellite imagery shows U.S. F-15 aircraft positioned in Jordan, while open-source tracking data indicates more than 250 U.S. cargo flights into regional hubs including Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

Trump has publicly stated that the U.S. seeks “no enrichment” under any deal — a position that leaves little room for compromise given Tehran’s insistence that uranium enrichment is a sovereign right. While the Geneva talks will be led by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump said he will be “indirectly” involved.

The administration has floated the possibility of regime change, but officials privately acknowledge uncertainty over what would follow. U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that in the event of a sudden collapse, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could quickly consolidate power.

Regional allies in the Gulf are urging restraint, warning that military action could destabilize energy markets and regional security. Israel, by contrast, is seen as more supportive of a harder line.

Tehran has responded with military drills, including exercises near disputed Gulf islands, and issued stern warnings against U.S. aggression.

For now, warships and diplomats move in parallel. Whether the buildup is a negotiating tactic or a prelude to escalation depends on whether Geneva produces a breakthrough — or confirms that confrontation is unavoidable.

Billions pledged. Troops promised. Hamas told to disarm. Washington prepares to reshape Gaza’s future.

U.S. President Donald Trump said member states of the newly formed “Board of Peace” have pledged more than $5 billion for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, ahead of a formal meeting scheduled for February 19 in Washington.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said participating countries had also committed thousands of personnel to a United Nations-authorized International Stabilization Force and local policing efforts in the Palestinian enclave.

“Very importantly, Hamas must uphold its commitment to Full and Immediate Demilitarization,” Trump wrote, urging the militant group to comply with the second phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement reached in October between Israel and Hamas.

The ceasefire plan, endorsed by the United Nations in November, outlines a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the deployment of an international stabilization force to oversee security.

Hamas has repeatedly described disarmament as a red line, though it has suggested weapons could potentially be handed to a future Palestinian governing authority. Both Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating ceasefire terms.

The Board of Peace, first convened on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, was initially framed as a mechanism to coordinate Gaza’s rebuilding. However, its charter appears to allow for broader international engagement.

Trump described the body as having “unlimited potential” and said the $5 billion in pledges would be formally announced at the Washington meeting. Countries seeking permanent membership have reportedly been asked to contribute $1 billion each, a condition that has drawn skepticism from some U.S. allies.

The upcoming meeting is expected to clarify the structure of the stabilization force and outline how reconstruction funds will be deployed in Gaza’s next phase.

One city. Two crises. U.S. envoys head to Geneva for high-stakes talks on Iran and the Ukraine war.

Two separate rounds of high-level diplomacy — focused on Iran and the war in Ukraine — are scheduled to take place Tuesday in Geneva, according to a source briefed on the matter.

A U.S. delegation that includes special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is expected to meet Iranian representatives in the morning session. Officials from Oman will mediate the discussions, continuing Muscat’s role as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

The talks come as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Iran following its crackdown on domestic protests and amid an expanded U.S. naval presence in the region.

Later in the day, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to join trilateral negotiations involving representatives from Russia and Ukraine. The discussions are part of ongoing efforts to explore potential pathways toward ending Russia’s four-year invasion of Ukraine.

While the two diplomatic tracks are separate, their convergence in Geneva underscores the breadth of U.S. foreign policy engagement at a moment of heightened global tension.

Neither the White House nor the governments involved have publicly detailed the scope or expected outcomes of the meetings. However, the simultaneous talks highlight Washington’s attempt to manage two major geopolitical crises through parallel diplomatic channels.

The U.S. is moving its largest aircraft carrier into the Middle East — a strategic signal as diplomacy with Tehran edges toward crisis.

The Pentagon is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford — the U.S. Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier — from the Caribbean to the Middle East, boosting American naval presence as tensions with Iran escalate, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the decision.

The redeployment will place two U.S. carriers in the region alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln and a broader constellation of guided-missile destroyers, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft that have moved in recent weeks amid the standoff.

Officials speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters that the Gerald R. Ford’s journey from the Caribbean — where it has been operating with escort ships and participated in activities including operations near Venezuela — will take at least a week. Carriers are scarce assets in the U.S. fleet of 11 and their schedules are typically set well in advance.

The move follows comments this week from President Donald Trump, who said he was considering deploying an additional carrier to the Gulf if a diplomatic deal with Iran is not reached, while also stating that an agreement could still be possible within the next month.

The Gerald R. Ford has been at sea since June 2025, longer than the typical nine-month deployment, and was earlier repositioned from Europe to the Caribbean. U.S. Navy officials have previously warned that prolonged deployments can strain morale among crews.

The carrier’s capabilities include more than 75 military aircraft and advanced radar systems, supported by a strike group equipped for surface, air and undersea operations.

The redeployment underscores Washington’s efforts to reinforce deterrence in the Middle East as indirect talks with Tehran continue, with the risk of military escalation still loomin

A major reshuffle at one of the world’s largest port operators — DP World names new leadership as it eyes long-term growth.

DP World announced Friday the appointment of Essa Kazim as chairman of its board of directors and Yuvraj Narayan as group chief executive officer, marking a significant leadership transition at the global logistics and port operator.

Kazim, who currently serves as governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre and chairman of Borse Dubai, brings decades of experience in financial and economic policy. He has also held senior roles within Dubai’s regulatory and fiscal institutions, including deputy chairman of the Supreme Legislation Committee and member of the Securities and Exchange Higher Committee.

His career began at the UAE Central Bank in 1988 before moving to the Dubai Department of Economic Development. He later served as director-general and then chairman of the Dubai Financial Market, playing a central role in shaping the emirate’s capital markets.

Narayan, who has been with DP World since 2004 and served as group chief financial officer since 2005, takes the helm after overseeing key strategic and financial initiatives that supported the company’s global expansion. The company credited him with strengthening financial resilience and operational efficiency across international markets.

Before joining DP World, Narayan held senior finance roles at ANZ Group and served as chief financial officer at Salalah Port Services in Oman.

DP World said the appointments align with its long-term strategy for sustainable growth and reinforce its position as an integrated global supply chain provider.

In a related move, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued a decree appointing Abdulla bin Damithan as chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, further reshaping leadership within Dubai’s trade and logistics sector.

A mid-air moment of diplomacy: Trump calls for Netanyahu’s pardon — Herzog answers at 30,000 feet.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog pushed back Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Israel’s decisions are governed by its own laws.

Trump made the remarks during a White House event while Herzog was returning from a four-day visit to Australia. “He should give it,” Trump said, referring to a pardon for Netanyahu. “The people of Israel should really shame him. He’s disgraceful for not giving it.”

According to Israeli officials, Herzog was informed of Trump’s comments mid-flight and convened advisers aboard the plane to craft a response. In a statement issued from the aircraft, the President’s Residence said that any pardon request submitted by Netanyahu is currently under review by Israel’s Justice Ministry for a legal opinion.

“Only after the process is concluded will the president examine the request in accordance with the law, the good of the state, and his conscience — and without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind,” the statement said.

The statement also expressed appreciation for Trump’s support of Israel’s security but emphasized that Israel is “a sovereign state governed by the rule of law.”

Pressed by reporters traveling with him for a personal reaction, Herzog replied tersely: “To the best of my recollection, I am the president of Israel.”

Netanyahu has been facing ongoing legal proceedings in Israel, and the question of a presidential pardon has drawn intense domestic debate. Herzog has previously said any such request would be handled strictly according to established legal procedures.

The exchange highlights the delicate balance between Israel’s close relationship with Washington and the independence of its judicial and constitutional processes.

Iran intensified arrests of political figures and activists on Monday even as it signaled continued openness to nuclear negotiations with the United States, underscoring Tehran’s dual strategy of internal repression and external diplomacy.

The latest detentions followed recent indirect talks between Iranian and U.S. officials in Oman that both sides described as constructive. Among those arrested was Javad Emam, spokesman for the Reformist Front coalition, along with several other reformist figures, activists and filmmakers accused of backing protest statements. The Revolutionary Guards were reported to be behind the arrests.

The crackdown comes weeks after mass protests — among the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic since 1979 — were violently suppressed. Authorities have branded the unrest “riots” allegedly orchestrated by foreign enemies, including Israel and the United States.

At the same time, Iran’s leadership has kept the diplomatic channel with Washington open. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to show resolve against outside pressure, framing national strength as a matter of popular will rather than military hardware.

In parallel, Iran hinted at possible concessions on its nuclear programme. State media quoted atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami as saying Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 percent if sanctions were lifted — a step that would lengthen the time needed to produce weapons-grade material. Iran insists its programme is peaceful, a claim disputed by the U.S., Israel and other Western governments.

The arrests have drawn renewed attention to the fate of prominent dissidents. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was recently sentenced to additional prison time on national security and propaganda charges, despite longstanding health concerns. Hussein Karoubi, son of veteran opposition leader Mehdi Karoubi, was also detained.

The reformist camp, which largely backed President Masoud Pezeshkian in last year’s election, has been hit particularly hard, with several of its senior figures now jailed.

While Washington has focused talks on Iran’s nuclear activities — and potentially its missile programme and regional alliances — it has so far shown little public reaction to the internal crackdown. President Donald Trump has warned of severe consequences if diplomacy fails, even as negotiations continue.

Official figures put the protest death toll at just over 3,100, mostly security personnel, while international groups say the true number of civilian deaths and arrests is far higher. As Iran presses ahead with arrests at home and diplomacy abroad, the contrast highlights a regime seeking relief from sanctions without loosening its grip on dissent.