The US aircraft carrier "Bush" approaches the Middle East; Israel says it is ready to resume the war, and Iran has formulated a "reciprocal response" plan.
The situation in the Middle East has suddenly intensified, with the United States, Israel, and Iran locked in confrontation, and the risk of military conflict rising significantly.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the US military's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier "Bush" appeared in the Indian Ocean on the 23rd and is moving toward the Middle East. The posture of three aircraft carriers simultaneously deployed in the Middle East is taking shape. Meanwhile, Trump issued a tough warning on social media, stating "time is counting down," directly targeting Iran.
According to CCTV News, Israeli Defense Minister Katz publicly stated on the 23rd that Israel is ready to restart war with Iran and is "just waiting for the green light from the United States."
At the same time, according to Xinhua News Agency citing Iran's Fars News Agency, Iran has formulated detailed counterattack plans against potential military actions by the US and its allies, including strikes on energy facilities, blockading the Strait of Hormuz, and a series of escalation options.
The United States continues to strengthen its military presence, Israel openly declares readiness for attack, and Iran lists countermeasure options one by one, with all three sides adopting hardline stances that shrink the space for negotiation. If the situation escalates further, energy prices, safe-haven assets, and regional assets will all face significant upward volatility pressure.
Three Aircraft Carriers Approaching, Trump Issues Countdown Warning
According to Xinhua News Agency, the US Central Command posted on social media on the 23rd confirming that the "Bush" class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was sailing in the Indian Ocean that day. The carrier strike group departed from Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia on March 31, circumnavigating the Cape of Good Hope in Africa en route to the Middle East. The fleet includes several destroyers and over 5,000 military personnel in total.
The area under US Central Command covers the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea. Currently, the "Lincoln" and "Ford" aircraft carrier strike groups are deployed in the Red Sea and northern Arabian Sea, respectively. According to US media reports, the "Bush" is likely to replace the "Ford," and during the handover, three carrier groups will be deployed simultaneously in the region.
Trump again denied in social media that he was eager to end military action against Iran, writing: "I have plenty of time, but Iran does not—time is counting down!" This statement further heightened market concerns about the collapse of US-Iran negotiations and increased risk of military conflict.
Israel: Targets set, "just waiting for US green light"
According to CCTV News, reporters learned that after an assessment, Israeli Defense Minister Katz stated clearly on the 23rd that Israel is ready to restart war with Iran, both defensive and offensive targets are set, and they are "waiting for the US green light."
Katz's remarks were extremely tough. He stated that once authorized by the United States, Israel will assassinate Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, and destroy energy and power facilities as well as economic infrastructure, sending Iran "back to the dark ages and the Stone Age."
This is one of the most open statements made by Israeli officials regarding military action against Iran, indicating Israel's military preparations have entered a substantial phase, with the key variable being political decisions from Washington.
Iran: Detailing "Reciprocal Response" options
According to Xinhua News Agency citing Iran's Fars News Agency on the 23rd, given the failure of diplomatic solutions and "complete distrust" of US negotiation sincerity, Iran has formulated counterattack plans against potential military actions by the US and its allies based on "reciprocal response" and "offensive deterrence" principles.
The plan is detailed and involves multiple escalation levels: if Iranian power plants are attacked, missiles and drones will strike power plants in Israel and US allies in the region; if oil and gas infrastructure are hit, key oil and gas facilities of related parties will be targeted, reducing daily production by 25 million barrels for a year; if Iranian military or political leaders are assassinated, information technology and artificial intelligence centers in Israel and US allies will be attacked.
In more intense scenarios, if Iran’s territorial sovereignty is violated, Iran will launch large-scale ballistic missile, cruise missile, and drone joint attacks against US aircraft carriers and armed helicopters; if maritime blockade continues or escalates, Iran will blockade the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and, if needed, completely close the Strait of Hormuz through large-scale mining, cutting off all oil export pipeline routes. The report also points out Iran may launch surprise attacks against US interests outside the region.
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