Netanyahu urged Iran to end uranium enrichment, while Tehran signaled willingness to negotiate if sanctions are lifted. As US-Iran talks resume in Geneva, Washington pushes diplomacy alongside pressure tactics, leaving the prospects of a breakthrough uncertain.

Netanyahu lists condition for US-Iran deal but Tehran wants sanctions relief: Will second round of nuclear talks succeed?

Built for the US Navy, it features the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), designed to improve aircraft launch efficiency and sortie rates.

'160 sorties/day': Can USS Gerald R. Ford launch more airstrikes per day than other carriers, including USS Abraham Lincoln?

The US previously struck Iran’s nuclear facilities during operations in 2025, and now two aircraft carriers, USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln, along with guided-missile destroyers, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft, are being positioned in and around Middle East waters.

Radar blackout over Tehran? How EA-18G Growlers on USS Abraham Lincoln and Gerald R. Ford could blind Iran’s military

 Iran and Israel possess potent ballistic missile arsenals tailored to their strategic geography. Iran focuses on volume and increasing precision with missiles like the Sejjil and Kheibar, while Israel maintains high-tech long-range deterrents like the Jericho series.

'Israel vs Iran': Comparing the ballistic missile range and accuracy

Israel relies on F-35 stealth and electronic warfare to overcome Iran's defences. Iran counters with deep territory, the S-300, and the Bavar-373. Distance and logistics remain the biggest hurdles.

Who has the edge? Israel's air power versus Iran’s layered defence

The 1988 downing of Iran Air Flight 655 by the USS Vincennes killed 290 civilians. The US called it an error, while Iran saw it as an attack. The tragedy permanently scarred US-Iran relations.


‘290 lives lost’: How a 1988 US naval error changed US and Iran relations forever

The US Air Force holds a distinct technological edge with its vast stealth fleet, but Iran’s dense, mobile air defence network and mountainous terrain create a formidable challenge.

Who has the edge? US air power versus Iran’s layered defence

Israel employs a sophisticated multi-layered air defence system to counter aerial threats. This network includes the Iron Dome for short-range rockets, David's Sling for cruise missiles, and the Arrow system for ballistic threats.

Israel vs Iran: How Israel can protect itself using lasers, missiles, and radar if attacked

Israel uses a 6-layer air defence network including Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow 2, Arrow 3, C-Dome, and the new laser-based Iron Beam to intercept threats from rockets to space-based missiles.

'6 layers of defence': How Israel can block drones and cruise missiles coming towards it

As tensions rise, US military hubs in Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq face the risk of attack. These bases house critical command centres, naval fleets, and troops. Their proximity to Iranian missile sites and strategic importance makes them potential primary targets in any regional conflict.

'U.S. vs. Iran': Why US bases in Qatar, Iraq, and Bahrain could be Iran’s primary targets

From Qatar's Al Udeid to Bahrain's 5th Fleet, here are 7 key US military bases in the Middle East within range of Iranian missiles.

From Qatar to Bahrain: US military bases Iran could attack in case of war

The US maintains a powerful 'Ring of Steel' around Iran with bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE. Supporting 50,000 troops, stealth fighters, and naval fleets, this network ensures rapid strike capability and robust missile defence across the Middle East.

What makes the US Middle East base network powerful enough to attack Iran?

The US has deployed nearly 50,000 troops to the Middle East to ensure regional stability. From logistics hubs in Kuwait to airbases in Qatar, this surge aims to deter aggression and protect allies.

50,000 military personnel? Why has the US deployed soldiers in the Middle East

Israel’s Iron Dome cannot stop Iran’s Kheibar and Sejil ballistic missiles, which fly at Mach 12-16. The defence task falls to the Arrow 3 and Arrow 2 systems, designed for space and high-altitude interception.

‘Iran vs Israel’: Can Israel’s Iron Dome stop Iran’s Kheibar and Sejil missiles?

After protests and brutality, President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered that no force should be used on silent protesters, but reports of demonstrators dying are still coming to the fore. 

'Iran exists by suppressing its own people': Iranian woman makes explosive remarks against regime amid protests

According to the Global Firepower Index 2025, Israel military is ranked 15 in the world with a PowerIndex score of 0.2661, while Iran ranks 16 with a PowerIndex score of 0.3048.

Iran vs Israel: Who holds the military edge in personnel, airpower, and tanks?

 It is in this context that attention has turned to the Khorramshahr-4, the largest and most formidable missile in Iran’s arsenal, now at the centre of Tehran’s deterrence messaging.

What is Iran’s Khorramshahr-4 missile? 6 things to know about its range, warhead and threat

Iranian state TV also broadcast funeral processions in western cities such as Gachsaran and Yasuj for security personnel killed in protests. It said 30 members of the security forces would be buried in the central city of Isfahan and that six more were killed by ‘rioters’ in Kermanshah.

Iran unrest death toll over 500, says rights group; internet blackout enters fourth day

Iran’s air defence relies on the Russian S-300 and local Bavar-373 to counter U.S. threats. While formidable against older jets, the network faces challenges from stealth technology, electronic jamming and saturation attacks.

'US vs Iran': What Iran’s air defenses can and cannot stop

A US-Iran war could push oil to $150, crash stock markets, and spike global inflation. Shipping costs may rise 50 per cent, hitting importers like India hard.

‘US vs Iran’: What would it mean for the world economy?

Iran's 2026 protests, sparked by economic collapse and inflation, have spread to 185 cities. Unlike 2022, traditional merchants have joined the unrest. With many confirmed deaths and a total internet blackout, the regime faces its toughest challenge yet.

What is really happening? How this 2026 Iran protest is different

The relationship is a Strategic Partnership, not a Military Alliance. The support provided would be material (weapons), informational (intelligence), and political (UN vetoes), rather than combat-based.

Could Iran’s allies, like Russia, come to its defence if the US strikes?

Iran rebuilt its air defences with the S-400 and domestic Bavar-373 after losing its S-300s in 2024. While capable against drones, the network struggles with integration and stealth detection, making it vulnerable to US air power.

Can Iran’s air defense systems really stop a US strike? Which air defense systems do they have?

In January 2026, U.S.-Iran tensions have pushed WTI oil to $59, but a record 3.8 million bpd surplus limits gains. Unrest in Iran and U.S. sanctions threaten the Strait of Hormuz, risking flows to India and China.

U.S. vs. Iran: How a war could affect global oil prices