Alex Ward

to have this massive military buildup.

That said, Trump, when he talks about diplomacy, seems serious and he is wary about starting a bigger war.

But what his actual goals are here are unclear.

He might then say at some point that all of this was really to protect protesters, but it's been a long time since then.

So it's hard to make that direct connection.

It is the first time that the U.S.

has ever done such a thing like this.

So it's a covert but still severe escalation in the way the U.S.

is dealing with Iran.

The U.S.

smuggled in roughly 6,000 or so Starlink terminals, which is the satellite internet company Elon Musk owns, and it allows a user to connect to the internet via satellite.

Of course, if they have more access satellite terminals, the opposition group, as fractured as it is in Iran, can start to communicate and organize against the regime.

If someone were to be found at the Starlink terminal, they already could get many years in jail or even face capital punishment and executions.

And now with this in public, there is a chance that the Iranian government goes, anyone with the Starlink could be suspected of receiving a U.S.

one and therefore they could face even harsher punishment.

There is a chance that this is an off-ramp and he takes it.

It's also a chance that it's a delay tactic.

And there's also a chance that he's good now, but if Iran continues its crackdown, he's not good later.

Countries in the region are concerned about this moving forward because they don't want to see a lot of volatility in their region.

Trump seems to be signaling that as long as the crackdown on protesters doesn't go forward, he's good.