US-Iran Tensions Escalate: Iran-Russia-China Hold Naval Drills Amid Talks | Two US Carriers Deployed

The Persian Gulf is once again at the centre of global strategic tension. The United States is expanding its military presence near Iran, deploying a second aircraft carrier strike group as nuclear negotiations remain fragile. The USS Gerald R. Ford is moving to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, with nearly one-third of America’s deployed naval fleet now focused on the region. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has responded with defiant rhetoric, even as diplomatic channels remain open between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, information warfare is emerging as a new front in the confrontation, with AI-generated propaganda videos circulating online. At sea, Iran, Russia, and China are conducting the “Maritime Security Belt” naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz - signalling growing military cooperation in one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. In this edition of World News, Pankaj Mishra breaks down the military buildup, Tehran’s response, information warfare risks, and the emerging global alignment in the Gulf.