Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a clear-eyed assessment of the Iranian threat during a press briefing on Wednesday, signaling that while the administration remains open to a diplomatic path, the window for Tehran to change course is narrowing.
Rubio’s message was unmistakable: the United States will no longer tolerate an Iranian regime that builds &#8220;hidden&#8221; nuclear infrastructure while pointing a massive arsenal of ballistic missiles at American interests.
Rubio addressed the talks recommencing on Thursday by reminding the world that Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain the primary flashpoint. Despite the crippling of their program under Operation Midnight Hammer, Rubio warned that the regime has not abandoned its desire to enrich uranium.
“After their nuclear program was obliterated, they were told not to try to restart it, and here they are,” he noted. “You can see them always trying to rebuild elements of it. They’re not enriching right now, but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can.”
Rubio directly challenged the “peaceful energy” narrative often peddled by Tehran. He noted that if Iran truly wanted nuclear power, it would follow the model of other nations — utilizing above-ground reactors and imported fuel. Instead, their insistence on enriching uranium deep inside mountains suggests a singular, more sinister goal.
“If what they really wanted was energy from it, they could do small modular reactors, which is something that’s quite affordable and achievable for a lot of countries,&#8221; Rubio said. &#8220;But when you say we want to enrich and we want to enrich deep underground, and you have a history in the past of enriching to 20 and even 60 percent, plus you’re building missiles that could potentially carry warheads, that doesn’t sound to me like someone who’s a country that’s not interested in building weapons.”
“You would have to lack common sense to not know what that means,” Rubio remarked.
He then shifted to Iran&#8217;s conventional military capabilities, arguing that the threat extends well beyond the nuclear file.
“Iran possesses a very large number of ballistic missiles, particularly short-range ballistic missiles that threaten the United States and our bases in the region and our partners in the region, and all of our bases in the UAE, in Qatar, in Bahrain,” he pointed out. “They also possess naval assets that threaten shipping and try to threaten the U.S. Navy. So I want everybody to understand that, and beyond just the nuclear program they possess these conventional weapons that are solely designed to attack America and attack Americans, if they so choose to do so. These things have to be addressed.”
“For a country that’s facing sanctions, whose economy is in tatters&#8230; somehow they still find the money to invest in missiles of greater and greater capacity every year,” Rubio said. “This is an unsustainable threat.”
Asked whether the upcoming negotiations represent the &#8220;last chance&#8221; for a peaceful resolution, Rubio remained measured but firm. He said President Trump &#8220;greatly prefers&#8221; a diplomatic solution and wants progress &#8220;more than anything else.&#8221;
But Rubio made clear there is a major sticking point: Iran’s refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program.
“The Iranian insistence on not discussing ballistic missiles is a big, big problem,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I’ll leave it at that.&#8221;

US-DIPLOMACY-CARIBBEAN-RUBIO

America’s Top Diplomat Drops Stark Message For Tehran Ahead Of High-Stakes Talks

Global Politics

Iran

Marco Rubio

Politics

16x9_iran_720

LIVE UPDATES: U.S. Navy Vanishes From Bahrain Port Ahead Of Iran Nuclear Talks

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Protest

Revolution

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump denied a report on Monday that General Daniel Caine is opposed to an extended military campaign against Iran, calling the reporting &#8220;100%&#8221; incorrect and promising that Caine is with him when it comes to Iran.
The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/pentagon-flags-risks-of-a-major-operation-against-iran-1c7e9939?st=EbutEA&amp;reflink=article_copyURL_share">had reported Monday</a> that Caine, fondly dubbed &#8220;Razin Caine&#8221; by the president, was opposed to the possibility of war plans regarding Iran. On Monday afternoon, the president slammed &#8220;numerous stories from the Fake News Media,&#8221; suggesting that he and Caine were not on the same page.
&#8220;The story does not attribute this vast wealth of knowledge to anyone, and is 100% incorrect,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1048589" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-shreds-iran-war-rift-story-and-sets-the-record-straight/president-trump-hosts-angel-families-remembrance-ceremony" rel="attachment wp-att-1048589"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1048589" class="wp-image-1048589 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262698432-865x576.jpg" alt="" width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262698432-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262698432-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262698432-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2262698432.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" /></a>The White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.  Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
&#8220;He knows Iran well in that he was in charge of Midnight Hammer, the attack on the Iranian Nuclear Development,&#8221; the president noted. &#8220;It is a Development no longer, but rather, was blown to smithereens by our Great B-2 Bombers. Razin Caine is a Great Fighter, and represents the Most Powerful Military anywhere in the World.&#8221;
Trump argued that Caine has not even &#8220;spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about.&#8221;
&#8220;He only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Everything that has been written about a potential War with Iran has been written incorrectly, and purposefully so. I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them.&#8221;
The Wall Street Journal reported that Caine was raising concerns with Trump about the war plans the United States is considering, concerns the publication claims are also shared by other Pentagon leaders. The WSJ reports that the United States is considering a number of options for strikes on Iran, including limited strikes, a days-long aerial campaign that would be focused on regime change, and more.
Officials expressed concerns about the possibility that a longer campaign in Iran would be costly for United States forces and deplete munitions stockpiles, the WSJ reported, noting that this would make protecting regional partners more complicated if Iran were still able to fight back. It could additionally impact future conflicts with China, the publication reported, if the United States used rarer air-defense munitions against Iran.
Trump has repeatedly insisted he has not yet made up his mind on what to do in Iran, emphasizing that all options remain on the table and that Iran would be wise not to harm its citizens or anger the United States further. Meanwhile, the United States has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-sheer-scale-of-the-u-s-military-presence-building-in-the-middle-east?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=The+Sheer+Scale+Of+The+U.S.+Military+Presence+Building+Up+Around+Iran">amassed</a> a massive fleet of warships and planes near Iran, the largest the U.S. has gathered in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq war.
<div class="paywall css-1u1nl00-PaywalledContentContainer e1qcjy9n0">
The WSJ report emphasizes that Trump, who has not made up his mind on how to act, greatly values Caine&#8217;s opinion. But the president&#8217;s Monday statement argues they are on the same page, and that Caine ultimately will follow Trump&#8217;s lead.
The White House responded similarly to the Wall Street Journal.
“General Caine is a highly respected professional whose job requires providing unbiased information to the Commander in Chief, which he does perfectly,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the publication. “President Trump listens to feedback from all members of his national security team, and he is always the final decision maker.”
</div>

Trump Angel Families Event

Trump Shreds Iran War Rift Story — And Sets The Record Straight

Dan Caine

Donald Trump

Media

World

President Donald Trump’s deadline for a deal with Iran draws near, Secret Service takes down a Mar-a-Lago intruder, and Team USA reignites the American spirit with thrilling victories on the ice.
It’s Monday, February 23, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iran-negotiations-intensify-mar-a-lago-intruder/id1576594336?i=1000750986850" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">The U.S.-Iran Showdown</h2>
American and Iranian diplomats meet again to work <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule">towards</a> a nuclear deal, as President Trump continues to threaten military action. 
Now that Trump’s military buildup in the Middle East is nearly complete, he has a range of options at his disposal, and the world is waiting to see which way he’ll go. White House officials say he could launch limited strikes on nuclear sites in the coming days, with the message: capitulate, or we’ll go harder. He could also specifically target the supreme leader and his son, widely viewed as the successor. Or he could simply keep the forces in place and allow negotiations to continue, albeit with a very different dynamic than before. 
Iranian officials on social media and in speeches have struck a defiant tone, taunting the United States, vowing to send American carriers to the bottom of the ocean.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Gunman Killed At Mar-a-Lago</h2>
Authorities shot and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/armed-intruder-with-shotgun-sparks-deadly-secret-service-response-at-mar-a-lago">killed</a> an armed man who walked through one of the main gates of Mar-a-Lago early Sunday morning. 
According to authorities, a young man entered the inner perimeter around 1:30 in the morning. He was carrying a gas can and a shotgun, and he walked through one of the club’s main gates as a vehicle was exiting. Law enforcement who were assigned to Mar-a-Lago responded. Two Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy fatally shot the man after he disregarded orders to drop the shotgun. 
The dead man has been <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article314795124.html">identified</a> as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin. He is originally from North Carolina, where his family reported him missing about the same time he was killed. Early on Sunday morning, a family member told a sheriff’s deputy from North Carolina’s Moore County that Martin had been unreachable since about 8 p.m. on Saturday. Later that morning, Martin’s mother posted about her son on Facebook, asking for help finding him.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Olympic Wrap Up</h2>
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have drawn to a close, but not before delivering one of the most emotionally charged finishes in decades.
 From the United States men’s hockey golds to breakout stars like Alysa Liu, the games have reignited a renewed American spirit. After a rocky start due to anti-ICE statements, Team USA athletes didn’t just score medals; they delivered iconic moments that deeply connected with the public. 
The U.S. men <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/revenge-served-cold-team-usa-takes-gold-over-canada-in-olympic-sudden-death-overtime?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Revenge+Served+Cold%3A+Team+USA+Takes+Gold+Over+Canada+In+Olympic+Sudden-Death+Overtime">defeating</a> Canada in overtime for Olympic gold marked the country’s first men’s hockey gold since 1980, the &#8220;Miracle on Ice.&#8221; Jack Hughes’ winning goal sent the U.S. bench into chaos and reignited memories of American hockey’s defining moments. 
Elsewhere on the ice, figure skater Alysa Liu has become bigger than medals. The young athlete <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-figure-skaters-father-narrowly-escaped-china-she-just-won-olympic-gold?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Alysa+Liu%E2%80%99s+Father+Escaped+China.+She+Just+Won+Olympic+Gold+For+The+United+States.">carried</a> herself with humility, joy, and visible love for her country. Liu’s success was particularly poignant when contrasted with that of skier Eileen Gu, who, though American, agreed to compete for Communist China. Her performances were emotional, technically strong, and original. When she finished her program, the reaction wasn’t just applause; it was affection.

MRN_260223_V2

Morning Brief: Iran Talks Heat Up, Mar-A-Lago Intruder, & Team USA On Fire

Florida

Mar-a-Lago

Morning Wire

Olympics

United States

President Donald Trump makes new threats to Iran amid growing United States military presence, former Prince Andrew is arrested over his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, and the search for Nancy Guthrie seems to hinge on DNA evidence.
It’s Friday, February 20, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trumps-iranian-ultimatum-former-prince-andrew-arrested/id1576594336?i=1000750637458" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Tells Iran That Time Is Ticking Short</h2>
As the United States military buildup in the Middle East continues, President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Trump+Puts+Iran+On+Notice+With+A+Specific+Timeframe">offered</a> new threats to Iran on Thursday as the world holds its breath. 
Nuclear talks, both formal and informal, have continued to stall this week, with the Trump administration reportedly furious over Iran’s refusal to give in on a number of key points — mainly the dismantling of their uranium enrichment facilities. On Tuesday, the regime asked for two weeks to come up with a new proposal, but the growing sense in Washington is that they’re simply stalling, trying to buy time for a potential nuclear breakthrough, and preparing for an armed conflict if it comes to that. While the president has said he’s still open to diplomacy, his actions say the time for negotiating may be over. 
Over the last 24 hours, the historic military buildup in the Middle East continued, with a steady stream of tankers, warships, and fighter jets arriving by the hour.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Prince Andrew Arrested</h2>
British police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-prince-andrew-arrested-over-epstein-files-faces-life-in-prison?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Former+Prince+Andrew+Arrested+Over+Epstein+Files%2C+Faces+Life+In+Prison">arrested former Prince</a> Andrew on Thursday in connection with his contact with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – and Andrew’s brother, King Charles, has responded. 
Hilary Fordwich, media host and former head of Global Bd, joined Morning Wire to discuss the controversy. Thames Valley Police arrested former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on his 66th birthday at 8 a.m. on Thursday. He has since been released, though it is unknown on what terms he was let go. 
“Ironically, obviously there&#8217;s all the debauchery from the photographs we&#8217;ve seen – he&#8217;s always claimed his innocence – but this is due to the misuse in public office of information, misuse of information as a trade envoy, passing secrets and trade private issues onto Jeffrey Epstein,” said Fordwich. “So, he betrayed his mother, his entire family, the Royal Family, and his nation.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">DNA Evidence In Guthrie Case</h2>
It’s day 20 in the search for Nancy Guthrie, and it seems the case is now hanging in the balance on DNA evidence. 
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-search-continues-for-nancy-guthrie-as-deadline-for-ransom-note-passes">insisted</a> that the case has not grown cold. One of the main leads law enforcement currently has is DNA found on a black glove believed to belong to the suspect. After testing, the DNA was not found to match anyone in CODIS, a database of DNA profiles. 
Meanwhile, the bounty for information in the case drew a significant donor. Michael Hupy, president of Milwaukee Crime Stoppers, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/high-stakes-money-move-enters-nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-mystery">sent</a> a $100,000 check through Crime Stoppers to 88-Crime in Tucson in hopes of generating new leads.

MW_260220_V1

Morning Brief: Trump Warns Iran & Prince Andrew Arrested

Nancy Guthrie

Prince Andrew

United Kingdom

<div>
In a major shift in European foreign policy, the Council of the European Union formally announced on Thursday that it has added the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the EU terrorist list.
</div>
<div>
The decision follows a preliminary political agreement reached by the Foreign Affairs Council in late January and marks a definitive end to months of internal diplomatic friction. The designation triggers an immediate suite of restrictive measures under the EU’s counterterrorism sanctions regime. Effective Friday, all funds, financial assets, and economic resources belonging to the IRGC within EU member states will be frozen. Furthermore, EU operators are now strictly prohibited from making any funds or economic resources available to the group. This move <a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/nl/press/press-releases/2026/02/19/eu-terrorist-list-council-designates-the-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-as-a-terrorist-organisation/">expands</a> the EU terrorist list to include 13 individuals and 23 groups and entities.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
It&#8217;s official: the EU has finally designated <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a>&#8216;s regime&#8217;s IRGC as a terrorist organization. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IRGCterrorists?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IRGCterrorists</a><a href="https://t.co/G7Y3ERj75z">https://t.co/G7Y3ERj75z</a> <a href="https://t.co/49eNrOVbXs">pic.twitter.com/49eNrOVbXs</a>
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonMBrodsky/status/2024476776575951307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div>
The path to this decision was fraught with contention. As recently as late January, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dutch-lawmaker-slams-france-spain-italy-for-blocking-terror-label-on-iranian-revolutionary-guards">reports</a> indicated that France, Spain, and Italy had voiced legal reservations, effectively stalling the designation, which requires unanimous consent from all 27 member states. Critics, including Dutch MEP Bart Groothuis, had publicly blasted the holdouts, citing the IRGC’s role in crushing internal dissent and its involvement in extraterritorial operations, such as the targeting of synagogues in Germany.
</div>
<div>
The IRGC, which serves as the &#8220;praetorian guard&#8221; for Iran’s Supreme Leader, has been accused by international observers of extreme brutality. Reports from earlier this year suggested that IRGC and Basij forces used live ammunition against peaceful demonstrators, with some estimates citing over 15,000 deaths in January alone. Beyond Iran’s borders, the IRGC’s Quds Force has long been viewed by Western intelligence as a primary driver of state-sponsored terrorism.
</div>
<div>
The EU’s legal framework for this designation, rooted in Common Position 2001/931/CFSP, is distinct from UN-led sanctions against Al-Qaeda or ISIL. By utilizing its autonomous sanctions regime, the EU has now aligned its policy with the United States, Canada, Israel, and several Gulf nations that had previously designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
</div>
<div>
In a statement accompanying the regulation, the Council noted that &#8220;competent authorities&#8221; had provided the necessary legal basis for the listing, satisfied that the entity was involved in terrorist acts.
</div>
<div>
The regulation was signed in Brussels by Council President Marilena Raouna and is set to be binding across all member states upon publication in the Official Journal.
</div>

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Trump Called Them Terrorists Years Ago — Now The World Stage Is Catching Up

European parliament

IRGC

The Trump administration appears to be gearing up for a substantial response to Iran, Washington state allegedly spends millions on gender surgeries for inmates, and whiplash hits Moderna as the Food and Drug Administration reverses its decision not to review the company’s new flu vaccine.
It’s Thursday, February 19, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iran-response-imminent-gender-surgeon-scrutinized-2-19-26/id1576594336?i=1000750462173" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">U.S. Surrounds Iran</h2>
Amid escalating tensions over Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and the killings of thousands of protesters, the Trump administration appears to be gearing up for an armed response. 
Over the last 36 hours, the Middle East has seen the largest military buildup in decades. Hundreds of cargo flights have transported weapons systems to the region, as hundreds of fighter jets, dozens of warships, and multiple aircraft carrier groups have also made their way towards Iran. 
This may be a negotiating tactic by the United States to secure concessions from Tehran as diplomatic talks continue. But numerous advisers to President Donald Trump, <a href="https://x.com/rcpvideo/status/2024169941696459097?s=20">including</a> his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said they don’t think it’s a bluff. Trump reportedly feels emboldened by the success of his bombing raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities back in June and the operation to grab Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January. 
As one former American diplomat put it to The Wall Street Journal, the president’s offer to Iran “is similar to Venezuela, surrender and we won’t attack you.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Blue State Spends Millions On Gender Surgeon</h2>
A new investigation found that Washington state has spent millions on the services of a gender surgeon who performs surgeries on prison inmates. 
The Washington State Healthcare Authority has paid more than $4.3 million since July 2019 for the services of Dr. Jeffrey Stiller. 
He is a prolific transgender surgeon, and according to his website, he&#8217;s performed more than 1,000 vaginoplasties, averaging five procedures per week, describing his services as extremely sought-after. 
Importantly, for this investigation, public records obtained by The Daily Wire show that Dr. Stiller&#8217;s clientele included a steady stream of inmates from Washington Department of Corrections facilities.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">FDA’s Moderna Reversal</h2>
There’s whiplash at Moderna as the Food and Drug Administration reverses its decision not to review the company’s new flu vaccine. 
The FDA decided it will allow Moderna to move forward with its new mRNA flu vaccine. The agency blocked it last week, but allowed it to move forward again after the pharma company agreed to additional testing. 
The vaccine is expected to be brought to market in two phases: the first for people 65 and older through a process of “accelerated approval,” which will allow it to move forward with limited evidence. The vaccine for that cohort can later receive full approval with more tests. After those are completed, the vaccine will also be released for adults ages 50-64, assuming the results of those tests come back positive.

MW_260219_V1

Morning Brief: U.S. Surrounds Iran, Prisoners Get ‘Gender Surgeries,’ & FDA’s Moderna Reversal

Moderna

Washington

The United States is rapidly expanding its military footprint across the Middle East, positioning major naval and air assets across the region as the Trump administration mounts pressure on Iran.
While the second round of nuclear negotiations wrapped this week and were described as “constructive,” the United States has continued to amass over a dozen warships and hundreds of planes throughout the region. 
Here are the assets we know are powering America’s surging military presence:
<h2>Aircraft Carrier Strike Groups</h2>
At the center of the buildup are aircraft carrier strike groups — both equipped with aircraft, warships, and vast amounts of weaponry. 
USS Gerald R. Ford strike group
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest warship and its accompanying strike group, is en route to the Middle East from the Caribbean, according to <a href="https://news.usni.org/2026/02/17/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-feb-17-2026">USNI News</a>.  On Wednesday morning, it was spotted off the coast of Morocco, presumably heading to the Strait of Gibraltar. The Ford strike group carries a full combat air wing of F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers for electronic warfare, E-2D Hawkeye airborne command aircraft, and Seahawk helicopters — giving it deep strike, surveillance, and electronic attack capabilities.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Gerald R. Ford — nuclear aircraft carrier</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Bainbridge — Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Mahan — Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Winston S. Churchill — Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group
The USS Abraham Lincoln Strike group arrived in the Arabian Sea last month after traveling from the South China Sea. As of Tuesday, the strike group was in position and reportedly around 700 kilometers away from Iran. The Lincoln strike group fields roughly 90 aircraft, including Marine F-35C stealth fighters, Super Hornets, Growlers, and Hawkeyes — a force capable of sustained combat operations.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Abraham Lincoln, aircraft carrier</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Spruance, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
</ul>
<h2>U.S. Warships</h2>
Mediterranean Sea
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Roosevelt, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Bulkeley, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
</ul>
Red Sea
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Delbert D. Black, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Arabian Sea
<ul>
<li>USS McFaul, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
</ul>
Persian Gulf
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Mitscher, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Michael Murphy, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer (part of the USS Lincoln strike group)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Canberra, Independence-class littoral combat ship</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Santa Barbara, Independence-class littoral combat ship</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">USS Tulsa, Independence-class littoral combat ship</li>
</ul>
<h2>Airpower</h2>
Europe
Numerous U.S. aircraft have been observed staging through and departing from bases across the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Greece. The pace of movement has been so high that <a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-amasses-more-airpower-middle-east-iran/">tracking</a> every flight in real time has become increasingly difficult. Among the aircraft we have been able to confirm are:
<ul>
<li>Numerous F-22s in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheAviationist/photos/the-deployment-of-f-22s-towards-the-middle-east-has-been-considered-by-many-to-b/919194347525233/">United Kingdom</a></li>
<li>Two E-3 Sentry AWACS in the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cddny45zppet">United Kingdom</a></li>
<li>7 KC-135 Stratotankers departed the U.K. heading to <a href="https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/02/16/usaf-deploys-18-f-35a-from-lakenheath-to-the-middle-east-marking-one-of-the-largest-recent-lightning-ii-movements/">Crete</a></li>
<li>12 F-16 Falcons seen leaving <a href="https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/02/17/usaf-sends-18-f-16s-toward-the-gulf-one-day-after-18-f-35s-confirming-sustained-fighter-surge/">Italy</a></li>
<li>Over a dozen refueling aircraft have been seen leaving the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/satellite-footage-us-surge-tanker-qatar">Middle East</a> or Europe generally</li>
<li>6 F-35s seen leaving <a href="https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/02/13/usaf-f-35a-redeployment-from-spain-concludes-gulf-reinforcement-phase/">Spain</a></li>
<li>RC-135 Rivet Joint signals aircraft seen arriving in <a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-amasses-more-airpower-middle-east-iran/">Crete</a> with another on the way</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Middle East
Numerous aircraft have also been spotted in Jordan, Qatar, and flying over the Strait of Hormuz. Throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, The Daily Wire tracked U.S. military cargo planes flying to and from bases across the Middle East, presumably transporting equipment and other assets.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Over 50 F-15 and EA-18 fighter jets arrived at Muwaffaq Salti military base in Jordan, <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-886998">reported</a> The Jerusalem Post.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Airlift flights by C-17s and C-5Ms <a href="https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/us-monitor-persian-gulf-after-considerable-military-build-up/?cf-view">were reported</a> between mid-January and February 9. Dozens more continued through Tuesday and Wednesday, according to live flight-tracking data.</li>
</ul>
(Drew Berkemeyer contributed to this report)

The Sheer Scale Of The U.S. Military Presence Building Up Around Iran

aircraft carrier

U.S. Navy

Iranian women&#8217;s rights activist Masih Alinejad, speaking at the United Nations Geneva Summit, excoriated European politicians whom she said have looked the other way while thousands of her countrymen and women have been killed, tortured, and mutilated by the despotic Islamic regime.
“I am supposed to talk only in three minutes,” the woman who has been targeted in three alleged assassination plots linked to the regime. “But in my country, in 24 hours, they killed 40,000 people in Iran. And I am here at the United Nations while the killers are walking here. I saw them with expensive Gucci bags. I saw them with expensive brands walking here at the United Nations. &#8230; I am going to talk the truth.”
“The Secretary General of United Nations stands with dictators,” she alleged. “The Secretary General of United Nations sends a congratulation letter to Islamic Republic for the anniversary of this murderous regime. You tell me, do they stand with dictators or the victims? The victims are here, these two women. One of them lost her eye because the Revolutionary Guard shot her in her eye. One of them carried a bullet in her arm. Do they stand with them?”
“Right now, after killing 40,000 people, they storm into hospitals; they&#8217;re finishing off the injured ones; they&#8217;re arresting doctors and nurses; they put the political prisoners on death row; they&#8217;re executing them,” she continued. “I want to ask Geneva to host a peace conference, invite the opposition from Iran, invite the leaders of Europe, invite the leaders from European countries and free world here to talk about an Iran without an Islamic Republic.”
Tearing a photo of Ayatollah Khomeini into pieces, she declared, “The West waited too long,” adding that it would not be “Islamophobic” to “treat ISIS the way they deserve to be treated.”
“The West waited too long, too long,” she said. “When I was fighting against compulsory hijab, they were like, ‘Oh, this is Islamophobic. Oh no, we have to respect others&#8217; culture.’ All the female politicians from West, they went to my country, they borrowed compulsory hijab from Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, France, from everywhere, high representative of Europe. &#8230; Suddenly, they realized, ‘Oh, this is not their culture.&#8217; They started to cut their hair to show their solidarity with us.”
“Stop cutting your hair,” she demanded. “Cut your ties with our killers.”
“And now 40,000 people have been killed,” she noted. “Now the time has come to understand. Don&#8217;t wait that long. &#8230; You call them reformists. We call them killers.”
“When I see my sister standing here, my sister, with bullets in their body, being blinded, standing here, I feel ashamed that I am alive that I don&#8217;t carry the bullet,” she said.
“I&#8217;m going to leave Geneva forever,” she said. “You can kick me out forever. But I couldn&#8217;t keep silent because I feel the guilt on my shoulder. I don&#8217;t know how to save my people with empty hands. I cannot sometimes sleep; I cannot breathe; I cannot even eat because I feel guilty. I cannot believe how come the leaders of European countries do not feel guilty by shaking the hand of those Islamic Republic officials full of blood. Shame on you.”
“I need you to promise me that we&#8217;re going to stand together, all of us, with my brother in Venezuela, my sister from Belarus. I need you all to stand with us and help my people in Iran. We have to stop the massacre and kick these f***ing killers from Europe, from everywhere,” she concluded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rare Moment of Truth at UN: Iranian women&#39;s rights activist <a href="https://twitter.com/AlinejadMasih?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlinejadMasih</a> takes the floor at United Nations <a href="https://twitter.com/GenevaSummit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GenevaSummit</a> to blast European politicians who for years failed to call out the regime&#39;s terrorism and gender apartheid, points to victims in the room shot by the regime. <a href="https://t.co/zvgdS2J8Ld">pic.twitter.com/zvgdS2J8Ld</a>
&mdash; Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillelNeuer/status/2023925966905479383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

TOPSHOT-SWITZERLAND-US-IRAN-ENERGY-DIPLOMACY-NUCLEAR-UN

MIC DROP: Women’s Rights Activist Torches Europe’s Appeasement With Explosive Final Line

Masih Alinejad

United Nations

Tragic new details emerge about Monday’s deadly shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink, the United States and Iran report progress in their nuclear talks in Geneva, and a critical Republican Senate primary in Texas gains nationwide attention.
It’s Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rhode-island-shooters-past-progress-with-iran-2-18-26/id1576594336?i=1000750292350" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trans Hockey Shooting</h2>
Tragic new details have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-identifying-man-opens-fire-at-rhode-island-hockey-game-killing-two">emerged</a> following Monday’s deadly shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink. 
Friends and family had gathered for a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Shortly after the game started, a lone gunman who identified as transgender descended from the back row of the bleachers and opened fire, killing his ex-wife and his son, and injuring at least three others, including his father and mother-in-law — all three victims are in critical condition. A livestream from the game captured the shooting and showed the players drop their sticks as they realized what was unfolding, as panicked spectators also attempted to flee. Rather than running for safety, one heroic bystander instead rushed the shooter. The video shows him jumping on top of the gunman and bringing an end to the carnage. Police later praised that man, saying his actions “led to a swift end to this tragic event.” During the ensuing scuffle, the gunman ultimately took his own life. 
Hours later, one of the gunman’s daughters spoke briefly with reporters and <a href="https://x.com/WCVB/status/2023544634216005773?s=20">said</a> her father had “mental health issues.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Iran Talks</h2>
The United States and Iran held nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday, and both sides are reporting progress. 
Behnam Ben Taleblu, the senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joined Morning Wire to analyze the discussions. The American side has been “tight-lipped,” but Tehran has not hesitated to talk to the media after every round of negotiations. According to Taleblu, the Iranians have two main goals with their strategy: dilute Trump’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-military-preparing-for-potentially-weeks-long-iran-operations">resolve</a> to strike Iran, and dilute the protesters&#8217; resolve to continue to resist the regime internally. 
Meanwhile, the regime continues to crack down on internal dissent.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump’s Nonendorsement-Endorsement In Texas</h2>
The 2026 midterms are starting to heat up, with a critical Republican Senate primary in Texas getting nationwide attention. 
President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-backs-all-three-republicans-in-texas-senate-primary-as-early-voting-begins">said</a> he backs all three of the Republican candidates in the heated race as early voting kicked off on Tuesday. On Air Force One on Monday night, the president <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t1QLBb9FKo">declined</a> to support any one above the others. 
Attorney General Ken Paxton is backed by Turning Point Action, while incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The race also includes Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX).

Dennis M. Lynch Arena

Morning Brief: Trans Gunman Kills Family, Iran Stalls For Time, & Trump Stays Neutral In Texas

John Cornyn

Ken Paxton

Rhode Island

Texas

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign minister called the latest round of nuclear negotiations with the United States a success, even as both parties heighten their military posture.
Following the conclusion of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters that “the path for a deal has started,” calling the latest round of talks “serious” and “constructive.” The United States delegation, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — who went immediately from Switzerland to a high-stakes trilateral meeting with Russia and Ukraine — has yet to release a formal readout of the meeting.
But the ostensible progress is set against military tension between Washington and Tehran. The United States is continuing to surge assets toward Iran, with the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group reportedly around 700 kilometers away from Iran. Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford — the world’s largest warship — and its accompanying strike group are en route from the Caribbean. 
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday taunted President Donald Trump’s military buildup, stating that while American aircraft carriers are “dangerous machines,” the “weapon that can sink the aircraft carrier to the bottom of the sea” is more dangerous.
Iran has also been flexing its own military muscle. On Tuesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/17/iran-us-strait-of-hormuz-oil-nuclear-talks-geneva.html">briefly closed</a> parts of the Strait of Hormuz for what it called “security precautions” as it conducted exercises in the strategic chokepoint, a critical artery for global oil shipments.
Iran also has plans to hold joint naval exercises with Russia and China for the “Maritime Security Belt 2026.” Russian presidential aide <a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/russia-china-iran-deploy-ships-for-joint-exercises-in-strait-of-hormuz/3832330">Nikolay Patrushev said</a> that the exercises, which have been held periodically since 2019, “proved to be relevant.” <a href="https://wanaen.com/iran-russia-and-china-to-hold-joint-naval-drill-soon/#:~:text=WANA%20(Feb%2017)%20%E2%80%93%20Nikolai,search%2Dand%2Drescue%20operations.">Iranian news outlet Wana</a> reported that the exercises are scheduled for late February and involve naval deployments from all three countries.
In total, there are at least 12 U.S. warships in the Middle East, according to satellite imagery <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d64p3q2d0o">reviewed by the BBC</a>. They include the USS Abraham Lincoln and its three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which form a full carrier strike group; two additional destroyers; and three specialized ships designed for near-shore combat, currently positioned at Bahrain’s naval station in the Gulf. Two other destroyers have been spotted in the eastern Mediterranean, and another in the Red Sea.
There has reportedly been an increase in F-15 and EA-18 fighter jets stationed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, along with cargo planes, refueling aircraft, and communications planes moving toward the region.
Trump told reporters on Monday aboard Air Force One, “I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” while describing Iran as “tough negotiators” and confirming his indirect involvement in the talks.
Hardline rhetoric has also come from Iran’s IRGC senior advisor General Mohammad Reza Naghdi, <a href="https://x.com/MEMRIReports/status/2023711589548036173">who declared</a> last week that the United States is “incapable of doing a damn thing even if it deploys 12 aircraft carriers.”
That&#8217;s a markedly different tone from Araghchi, the foreign minister, who said &#8220;good progress was made compared to the previous session, and we now have a clearer path ahead, which I consider positive.” The foreign minister of Oman, who moderated the talks, echoed that positive assessment, saying the talks concluded with “good progress towards identifying common goals and relevant technical issues” and highlighting the “constructive spirit” of the discussions. 
Curbing Iran’s missile capabilities has remained a top concern for Israel, which repeatedly raised the issue with Trump in December. Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he would support an Israeli strike on Iran’s ballistic missile program if diplomacy failed.

Trump and Ayatollah

Iran Says Nuclear Talks Are ‘Constructive’ As Trump Sends A Message In The Gulf

Russia

The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two U.S. officials told Reuters, in what could become a far more serious conflict than previously seen between the countries.
The disclosure by the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the planning, raises the stakes for the diplomacy underway between the United States and Iran.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will hold negotiations with Iran on Tuesday in Geneva, with representatives from Oman acting as mediators. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned on Saturday that while Trump&#8217;s preference was to reach a deal with Tehran, &#8220;that’s very hard to do.&#8221;
Meanwhile, Trump has amassed military forces in the region, raising fears of new military action. U.S. officials said on Friday the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and other firepower capable of waging attacks and defending against them.
Trump, speaking on Friday after a military event at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, openly floated the possibility of changing the government in Iran, saying it &#8220;seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.&#8221; He declined to share who he wanted to take over Iran, but said, &#8220;there are people.&#8221;
&#8220;For 47 years, they&#8217;ve been talking and talking and talking,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump has long voiced skepticism about sending ground troops into Iran, saying last year, &#8220;the last thing you want to do is ground forces,&#8221; and the kinds of U.S. firepower arrayed in the Middle East so far suggest options for strikes primarily by air and naval forces. In Venezuela, Trump demonstrated a willingness to rely also on special operations forces to seize that country&#8217;s president, Nicolas Maduro, in a raid last month.
Asked for comment on the preparations for a potentially sustained U.S. military operation, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said: &#8220;President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran.&#8221;
&#8220;He listens to a variety of perspectives on any given issue, but makes the final decision based on what is best for our country and national security,&#8221; Kelly said.
The Pentagon declined to comment.
The United States sent two aircraft carriers to the region last year, when it carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
However, June&#8217;s &#8220;Midnight Hammer&#8221; operation was essentially a one-off U.S. attack, with stealth bombers flying from the United States to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran staged a very limited retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar.
The planning under way this time is more complex, the officials said.
In a sustained campaign, the U.S. military could hit Iranian state and security facilities, not just nuclear infrastructure, one of the officials said. The official declined to provide specific details.
Experts say the risks to U.S. forces would be far greater in such an operation against Iran, which boasts a formidable arsenal of missiles. Retaliatory Iranian strikes also increase the risk of a regional conflict.
The same official said the United States fully expected Iran to retaliate, leading to back-and-forth strikes and reprisals over time.
The White House and Pentagon did not respond to questions about the risks of retaliation or regional conflict.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and crushing of internal dissent. On Thursday, he warned the alternative to a diplomatic solution would &#8220;be very traumatic, very traumatic.&#8221;
Iran&#8217;s Revolutionary Guard has warned that in case of strikes on Iranian territory, it could retaliate against any U.S. military base.
The U.S. maintains bases throughout the Middle East, including in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Trump for talks in Washington on Wednesday, saying that if an agreement with Iran were reached, &#8220;it must include the elements that are vital to Israel.&#8221;
Iran has said it is prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions, but has ruled out linking the issue to missiles.
On Saturday, Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi said U.S. military intervention in Iran could save lives and urged Washington not to spend too long negotiating with Tehran&#8217;s clerical rulers on a nuclear deal.
The exiled son of Iran&#8217;s toppled shah told Reuters in an interview there were signs that the Iranian government was on the brink of collapse and that an attack could weaken it or accelerate its fall.
&#8220;We are hoping that this attack will expedite the process and the people can be finally back in the streets and take it all the way to the ultimate regime&#8217;s downfall,&#8221; said Pahlavi, who is based in the United States and has lived outside Iran since before his father was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee, Rosalba O&#8217;Brien, Rod Nickel)

F/A18 Tested In Carrier Landing

U.S. Military Preparing For Potentially Weeks-Long Iran Operations

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