WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that a change in power in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen” as the U.S. administration weighs whether to take military action against Tehran.

The Pentagon is preparing to deploy a second aircraft carrier in the Middle East as the U.S. continues to negotiate with Iran

Iran has warned it could wipe out US forces in the Middle East. The threat comes amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. The United States has vowed not to back down, while Iran has deployed hundreds of drones and positioned missiles across the region.

NEW YORK] Oil prices gained about 1 per cent on Wednesday, as investors worried about escalating tensions between Iran and the US, which were preparing to resume negotiations, while a weekly report

F-35A stealth fighters from the Vermont Air National Guard (VANG) are edging nearer to potential deployments to the Middle East. The movement of these aircraft comes as the U.S. is building up a large force in the U.S. Central Command region ahead of a possible conflict with Iran.

"It would not be possible to attack American soil, but we will target their bases in the region,” said Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Feb 9 (Reuters) - The United States issued fresh guidance on Monday to commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for Middle East oil supplies, as tensions simmered between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran rejects U.S. demands to negotiate ballistic missile program as tensions escalate across Middle East despite ongoing diplomatic talks in Oman.