The massive accumulation of aircraft carriers and fighter jets in the Middle East, coupled with the Pentagon’s Venezuela operation, could cost billions of dollars.

From the perspective of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, accepting such terms could appear more dangerous than risking a limited war with the United States under President Donald Trump. A military confrontation, however costly, may be seen as survivable. Total strategic rollback may not.

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 () - The United States did not seek zero uranium enrichment in nuclear talks this week and Iran did not offer to suspend enrichment, Iran's ‌foreign minister said on Friday, adding that he expected to have a draft counterproposal ‌ready within days.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that US President Donald Trump is "weighing an initial limited military strike on Iran to force it to meet his demands for a nuclear deal."

The Iranian naval drill and the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea underscore the tensions between the nations.

US-Iran tensions LIVE: US President Donald Trump launched a fresh threat on Tehran on Wednesday after mediatory talks between the two nations in Geneva. Trump said Iran would attract ‘bad things’ if it fails to strike a deal with Washington.

Israel Activates Emergency Preparedness; Tehran Warns of Retaliation. Iran-US Tensions LIVE: With Donald Trump pressing Tehran to strike a nucl

President Trump has one bright red line for Iran's nuclear program and some areas of flexibility as he weighs military strikes or a possible deal in the coming days.