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Farah N. Jan, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of Pennsylvania

US military action in Iran risks igniting a regional and global nuclear cascade

Iranian youths walk past a building covered with a giant billboard depicting an image of the destroyed USS Abraham Lincoln. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The United States is seemingly moving toward a potential strike on Iran.

On Jan. 28, 2026, President Donald Trump sharply intensified his threats to the Islamic Republic, suggesting that if Tehran did not agree to a set of demands, he could mount an attack “with speed and violence.” To underline the threat, the Pentagon moved aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln – along with destroyers, bombers and fighter jets – to positions within striking distance of the country.

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