The Middle East is on a knife-edge. In a move that has sent shockwaves from Washington to Israel, Iran has officially thrown down its "nuclear armour". Senior advisor Ali Shamkhani just declared a total ban on transferring Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile abroad, effectively killing a Russian-brokered deal before it even began. With 60&#37 enriched uranium sitting on Iranian soil, the "Nuclear Red Line" has been drawn. While the US and Israel demand the total removal of these materials, Tehran is signaling a different path; a conditional reduction to 20&#37 enrichment, but only if the West blinks first. WATCH 

The United States has begun repositioning major naval assets closer to Iran, marking a significant escalation in military readiness even as Washington continues to emphasize diplomacy as a preferred path forward. President Donald Trump confirmed that a US “armada,” including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and guided-missile destroyers, is moving toward the Middle East. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the deployment is meant to strengthen deterrence while making clear that military force may not ultimately be used if diplomatic channels remain viable. WATCH