DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran held annual military drills with Russia on Thursday as a second American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East, with both the United States and Iran signaling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran’s nuclear program fizzle out.

As the United States continues a significant military buildup in the Middle East, Iran has taken steps to signal its readiness for war, including fortifying its nuclear sites and rebuilding missile production facilities.

The Iranian naval drill and the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea underscore the tensions between the nations.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has vowed to unleash a regional war if America launches air strikes. Initially few in the Middle East seemed eager for further conflict. The region’s power-brokers tried to dissuade America from military action. But attitudes now look more mixed.

The last round of talks between the two countries was an opportunity for Iran to avert war but Tehran offered little to Washington. That is not because Iran’s rulers are too obdurate and caught up in their old ways of thinking.

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) on MS NOW gave his views on the U.S. military build up around Iran and the Trump Administration's secrecy over their intentions:

Tensions between the United States and Iran surged after Iran’s Atomic Energy Chief Mohammad Eslami declared Tehran has fully developed an indigenous nuclear industry following the 2025 conflict. He insisted Iran’s program complies with the International Atomic Energy Agency and warned no nation can strip its enrichment rights.

Iran held annual military drills with Russia on Thursday as a second American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East, with both the United States and Iran signaling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran's nuclear program fizzle out.

Israel conducts long-range mid-air refueling drills for stealth jets, signaling readiness amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. Analysts warn a potential confrontation over Tehran could be imminent as military forces prepare for extended operations.