THIRD CARRIER HEADED TO IRAN: Washington Mobilizes 50,000 in Massive Military Buildup...

The US is positioning three aircraft carriers and roughly 50,000 troops around Iran as an eight-month war enters a critical phase where both military escalation and diplomatic talks remain live possibilities. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group departed San Diego on Sunday, with two amphibious landing groups following, adding F-35 fighter jets and thousands of Marines to existing regional forces. Defense officials framed the buildup as preserving Trump's options whether diplomacy succeeds or fails, while Iran simultaneously pushed a seven-point peace proposal through Qatar—involving strait reopening, sanctions relief, and nuclear negotiations—that the US quickly rejected, leaving both sides signaling readiness for conflict even as negotiations continue.