Mike Baker

officials have stressed deterrence and readiness rather than imminent action, but the posture itself sends a clear signal.

At the same time, the regime remains defiant in the face of the U.S.

buildup in the region.

Iranian military commanders and senior officials have issued sharp warnings, vowing that any American strike would be met with a full-scale response.

State media continues to project confidence, emphasizing Iran's missile capabilities, regional proxy network, and readiness for confrontation.

This dual posture, private precaution paired with public defiance, is familiar.

Tehran wants to deter action by projecting strength, even as it quietly prepares for worst case scenarios.

The messaging is aimed as much at domestic audiences as it is at Washington.

The regime wants to appear unshaken, unbowed and firmly in control.

And finally, new reporting suggests that if a strike does occur, the U.S.

may not be acting alone.

According to regional reporting, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and the U.K.

could provide support in the event of U.S.

military action against Iran.

The nature of that support remains unclear, and none of the governments involved have publicly confirmed such plans.

Taken together, though, these developments paint a picture of a regime under extraordinary strain, accused of extreme brutality at home, preparing for conflict with the U.S., and facing a shifting regional environment that may be less forgiving than in the past.

All right, coming up next, a fatal shooting in Minneapolis escalates tensions at home, and Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S.

conclude talks in Abu Dhabi, with little to show for them.

I'll be right back.

Hey, Mike Baker here.