US–Iran tensions are entering a delicate phase: diplomacy and deterrence at the same time. While indirect nuclear talks resumed in Oman and were described as a “good start”, a dramatic incident unfolded in the Arabian Sea — a drone approached a US aircraft carrier and was shot down by a pilot aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner later visited the carrier, reinforcing what Washington calls a “peace through strength” approach amid high-octane upcoming meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Donald Trump described Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens fatally shot during federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis this winter, as “not angels”, highlighting the complex and tragic nature of the incidents. Trump expressed sorrow over the deaths, emphasizing that they were avoidable, while reaffirming strong support for law enforcement and national security measures. The Minneapolis incidents have sparked widespread public outrage, leading the federal government to scale back its operations in the city. Trump suggested that lessons could be learned, indicating a potential “softer touch” in future immigration enforcement, while critics remain deeply divided on the approach. Local leaders and national figures, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have called for immediate reforms, arguing that federal actions made residents feel unsafe and demanded accountability. WATCH