WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump used a Fox News interview to send a direct warning to Tehran: the United States is ready to answer any Iranian military move. His comments come during a stretch of rising friction in the region, with nuclear talks in Oman only days away. The moment highlights how close diplomacy and conflict now sit.

Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall discussed the growing U.S.-Iran standoff. Trump said the U.S. is “prepared” if Iran takes military action.  He framed that posture around efforts to block Tehran’s nuclear progress and limit Iran’s reach across the region.

The remarks arrive as reports mount of dangerous encounters at sea, including Iranian gunboats trying to board a U.S. oil tanker and U.S. forces intercepting drones.

What’s driving the latest spike in U.S.-Iran tensions

U.S.-Iran relations have slid fast since Trump returned to office, building on years of disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, proxy groups, and ballistic missiles. The temperature climbed last June after U.S. strikes hit Iranian nuclear sites, following Israel’s 12-day campaign against Iran. Iran’s crackdown on protests after that only added fuel to the cycle.

In recent weeks, Iranian vessels have pressed commercial traffic near the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, U.S. warships have stepped in to stop threats in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.

Trump has kept up pressure in public, saying Iran must stop moving its nuclear work forward and cut support for groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis. In one exchange, he pointed to “very big, powerful ships” positioned near Iran. He said he wants diplomacy to work, but won’t hesitate if it fails.

The strategy resembles Trump’s first-term “maximum pressure” approach, but officials now describe it as more urgent. The administration says any agreement must cover nuclear limits, missiles, and proxy networks. Iran has rejected that broader package.

Oman talks: narrow agenda, high stakes

Even with the threats, both sides are still talking. U.S. and Iranian officials are scheduled to meet on Friday in Muscat, Oman. The talks are expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear program and possible sanctions relief.

The meeting location shifted from Istanbul to Oman at Iran’s request. That move also narrowed the agenda to nuclear issues, leaving out wider regional security topics that Washington has pushed.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to attend, and Jared Kushner may also be involved. They are set to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Oman has played go-between for years and has hosted past indirect talks.

Trump has said Iran is “seriously talking” with the U.S., but many remain doubtful. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said progress depends on Iran accepting limits on missiles and proxy ties. Iranian officials say they will only discuss the nuclear file, and only “on an equal footing.”

Trump has also tied the talks to the risk of force, warning that if talks fail, future strikes could be “far worse” than earlier action.

Iran’s playbook: proxies, missiles, and pressure points

Iran often relies on indirect power rather than head-to-head fights. Analysts describe a layered plan meant to raise the cost of any attack. That includes large waves of ballistic missiles and drones, plus proxy activity tied to the “Axis of Resistance” in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.

Tehran also holds a major economic threat over the region: disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have said they would respond “with everything we have” if attacked. They have pointed to options like cyberattacks and interference with shipping.

Still, the past year has exposed weaknesses, including gaps revealed during last year’s strikes. That has sparked internal debate inside Iran about whether a more flexible approach could reduce risk. Other voices argue the opposite, that only the threat of a long conflict can hold the U.S. back.

U.S. naval buildup near Iran

The Pentagon has increased forces in the region to back up Trump’s warnings. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is operating in the Arabian Sea, alongside guided-missile ships and aircraft such as F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning IIs.

Other reported assets include the USS Delbert D. Black, USS McFaul, and USS Mitscher near the Strait of Hormuz. Littoral combat ships are also operating in the Persian Gulf, with added air support from bases in Jordan and Qatar.

Satellite imagery has shown expanded activity at sites such as Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. Missile defenses, including THAAD and Patriot systems, are reinforcing protection for U.S. forces and partners. U.S. officials have described the buildup as a large force meant to deter attacks and allow a fast response if needed.

What happens next, and what could go wrong

The next few days could set the tone for months. A deal in Oman could produce a limited nuclear agreement, ease some sanctions, and cool the situation. A breakdown could bring the opposite, with small incidents turning into direct clashes.

Analysts warn the risks are real: a proxy strike could draw U.S. retaliation, or Iran could try to disrupt key shipping lanes. Either outcome could push energy prices higher and shake global markets.

Regional partners such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE could also face attacks, and Israel could be pulled deeper into the conflict. Trump has held off strikes before to leave room for talks, but his latest comments suggest little patience for what he sees as Iranian defiance.

As attention shifts to Muscat, Trump’s Fox News statement stands as both a warning and a show of resolve. The outcome could be a narrow deal or a wider crisis. The stakes include nuclear risk, regional stability, and global security.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a press availability at the State Department, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticized Iran’s leaders. He accused Tehran of backing terrorist activity across the globe and stressed what he called a deep gap between the clerical government and the Iranian people.

Marco Rubio spoke as the United States weighs possible nuclear talks with Iran. His comments reflected the Trump administration’s tough approach. He argued that Iran, a country with significant wealth and potential, is sending money outward to support proxy forces instead of fixing urgent problems at home. He pointed to issues like water shortages, power problems, and economic strain.

“The Iranian regime is sponsoring terrorism around the world,” Rubio said. He added that Iran’s leaders are “spending all their resources, of what is a rich country, sponsoring terrorism, sponsoring all these proxy groups around the world, exporting as they call it, ‘their revolution.’”

The State Department has labeled Iran a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984. Under Rubio, the department has also moved to renew terrorism designations tied to Iran-aligned militias in Iraq. He has pushed allies to tighten sanctions and has urged partners to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

Rubio tied Iran’s foreign activities to the hardship many Iranians face. “One of the reasons why the Iranian regime cannot provide the people of Iran the quality of life that they deserve is because they’re spending all their money” on these operations, he said. He pointed to ongoing domestic unrest, including recent protests tied to the economy and government repression, as signs the state can’t meet basic public needs.

A Wide Gap Between Iran’s Leaders and Its People

A key theme in Rubio’s remarks was his effort to separate the Iranian government from the population. “The Iranian people and the Iranian regime are very unalike,” he said. “In essence, what the Iranian people want, this is a culture with a deep history, these are people that the leadership of Iran at the clerical level does not reflect.”

He argued that the difference is unusually large. “I know of no other country where there’s a bigger difference between the people that lead the country and the people who live there,” Rubio said. He described Iran as a society shaped by a long Persian past, and he suggested the current leadership doesn’t represent that identity.

This message matches Rubio’s past public comments, including statements made during his Senate confirmation process. It also fits a broader U.S. strategy, criticize the regime while showing respect for ordinary Iranians. The goal is to build international support for pressure on Tehran without pushing away internal reformers, dissidents, or civil society voices.

Rubio Lays Out Hard Terms for Any Nuclear Talks

Rubio’s remarks came as the U.S. and Iran explore limited engagement. He confirmed reports that Iran asked to change the location of planned talks that were first expected to take place in Turkey. He said the United States is still open to talks, but he made clear that Washington wants more than a narrow nuclear discussion.

“For talks to actually lead to something meaningful, they will have to include certain things,” Rubio said. “That includes the range of their ballistic missiles. That includes their sponsorship of terrorist organizations across the region. That includes the nuclear program. And that includes the treatment of their own people.”

He said he doubts Tehran will accept a broader agenda, since it appears focused on uranium enrichment and related nuclear issues. Rubio added that President Trump prefers diplomacy and peaceful outcomes, but won’t rule out confrontation.

“Our problem with the Iranian regime isn’t simply, obviously it’s predominantly, their desire to acquire nuclear weapons, their sponsorship of terrorism,” Rubio said, “but it’s ultimately the treatment of their own people.”

He also pointed to recent crackdowns, including arrests tied to alleged spying and assisting foreign actors, as more evidence of repression inside Iran.

What Rubio’s Remarks Signal for U.S. Policy

Rubio’s comments reinforce the administration’s maximum pressure approach. That includes targeting Iran’s proxy groups and working with European partners on sanctions. Critics warn that this kind of rhetoric can raise tensions. Supporters say it’s needed to counter Iran’s influence in the Middle East through groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and armed factions in Iraq.

With frustration inside Iran driven by economic stagnation and human rights concerns, Rubio’s framing may appeal to dissidents and members of the Iranian diaspora who see the clerical system as separate from Iran’s national identity.

Over the next several days, diplomacy will face the same divides Rubio laid out. For now, the message from the Secretary of State is clear, the U.S. views Iran’s rulers not only as a nuclear risk, but also as a sponsor of instability whose priorities clash with what many Iranians want.

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LOS ANGELES – Don Lemon’s stop on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 2, 2026, mixed late-night sympathy with celebrity back-patting, and, to many critics, a serious lack of reality. The former CNN anchor used the interview to talk about his recent arrest by federal agents. It was his first big public appearance since being detained, and it didn’t take long for conservative voices to slam the segment as “absurd,” saying it showed the kind of media entitlement that turns people off.

Lemon, now calling himself an independent journalist and running a YouTube show, was arrested in Los Angeles late last month. The arrest followed his coverage of an anti-ICE protest tied to a disruption at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18. Federal charges accuse him of conduct linked to interfering with religious freedoms, based on allegations tied to his entry into the church during the demonstration. He was released soon after without bail. Lemon has said he’ll plead not guilty, and his lawyers say he was there to report, not to take part.

Kimmel opened the segment with a sarcastic line, saying Lemon had been arrested for “committing journalism, which is a very serious crime under our current administration.” The joke set the theme for the whole interview, treating the situation as political payback instead of a legal issue.

Lemon then described being arrested at his hotel after attending Grammy-related events. He said he walked to the elevator, pressed the button, and then agents grabbed him and put him in handcuffs. He claimed he asked for ID and a warrant, and that agents didn’t have paperwork at first. He added that an FBI representative later showed a warrant on a phone.

Don Lemon Repeats “I’m not a Protester.”

Throughout the interview, Lemon kept returning to the same point: he says he was working. “I’m not a protester,” he said. He described his goal as documenting what was going on and reporting on it. Lemon also accused the Department of Justice under the Trump administration of turning the arrest into a public show meant to “embarrass” him, scare critics, and send a message.

He said his lawyer, Abbe Lowell, offered to arrange a self-surrender ahead of time, but the government didn’t take the offer and went ahead with an on-the-spot arrest.

The exchange played more like a supportive check-in than a tough interview. Kimmel expressed concern for Lemon, and Lemon framed himself as the target of government overreach. For many watching, though, that storyline ignored a basic point about how the law works, and it sparked quick backlash, especially from people who argue press rights have limits.

One of the loudest responses came from Megyn Kelly, who addressed the Kimmel appearance on her show with National Review editor Rich Lowry and writer Charles C.W. Cooke. They picked apart Lemon’s claims and mocked the tone of the interview. Kelly called the segment “absurd,” pointing to what she saw as self-pity and a refusal to grapple with the charges. Lowry and Cooke focused more on the legal issue behind the headlines.

Megyn Kelly Exposes Lemons Defence

Cooke’s main argument was simple: calling yourself a journalist doesn’t shield you from prosecution. He said the First Amendment protects gathering and publishing information, but it doesn’t cancel laws that apply to everyone.

In his view, that includes rules about trespass, disrupting a religious service, or violating civil rights. As Cooke put it, press freedom doesn’t give someone a pass from laws that bind the rest of the country.

Lowry backed that up, saying there’s a difference between aggressive reporting and crossing into interference, especially inside a church during a service. The panel also criticized reactions from other TV shows, including The View, where hosts reportedly defended Lemon by treating press protections as a blanket excuse, without addressing the details in the indictment.

Kelly and her guests framed those defenses as a bigger problem in parts of the liberal media: either not understanding the limits of the First Amendment, or acting like they don’t matter.

This fight sits inside a larger cultural split. Lemon’s supporters see the arrest as punishment for reporting that criticizes ICE and immigration policy. They argue it’s meant to chill speech and scare off coverage the government doesn’t like.

Critics respond that the case isn’t about what he said, it’s about what he did, and that journalism doesn’t place anyone above accountability.

Lemon’s Kimmel interview likely energized his fans and brought more attention to his independent platform. It also fueled claims that he’s playing the victim for sympathy and clicks. As the case moves forward, a court will decide whether his actions count as protected newsgathering or illegal interference. Until then, the whole episode keeps one point in focus: the First Amendment is powerful, but it isn’t a free pass.

Cooke and others say that the line matters for the rule of law. If simply claiming “journalism” could excuse almost anything, it would invite abuse and deepen public distrust in both the media and the justice system.

Don Lemon’s defense may or may not hold up in court, but the debate sparked by his TV appearance highlights the same hard question people keep circling back to: where reporting stops and activism, or illegal conduct, begins.

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