Aiming at Iran? US and Israel conduct large scale air force exercise

The air forces of the IDF and the United States have been conducting a large scale strategic exercise over the Mediterranean Sea, which many believe is a practice run for possibly striking at Iran, according to a report today (Tuesday) by Kann News.

According to the report, the exercise included strategic bombers including B-52s, America's mainstay heavy strategic bombers, and refueling planes which are meant for securing long-range bombing efforts - whether in Yemen or in Iran.

Israel has reportedly been trying to persuade the United States to conduct a joint aerial strike against sites identified as crucial for Iran's nuclear weapons program by their intelligence services, as Israel may not have the weapons or the numbers to deal the program a crippling blow by itself.

Trump himself has been equivocal on the matter, commenting that it "would be nice" if Iran could agree to give up its nuclear weapons without the Israeli Air Force striking Iran's nuclear weapons sites and not openly proposing that the US Air Force join in.

The President did reimpose "maximum pressure" sanctions on Iran, including increased efforts to sanction Iran's "shadow fleet" bypassing sanctions to sell oil to countries like China, shortly after taking office. Trump did say that the sanctions were "very tough" on the Iranians but that Iran was "too close" to a nuclear bomb and could not be allowed to possess them.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has repeatedly expressed an interest in negotiating with President Trump, but the ruling Iranian Supreme Council led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is presently denying him the ability, on the grounds that the United States can be trusted.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to suffer from a collapse in its currency, rampant inflation and unemployment, and frequent power outages due to outdated equipment and US sanctions. These combined are leading to multiple protests around the country for better wages and living conditions.