The Ford School's Javed Ali has been following the unfolding drama in the Persian Gulf closely, and has been commenting in the media about nuclear talks and military tension between the United States and Iran.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei taunted President Donald Trump as the military build-up began. On Fox News, Ali said the belligerent comments are expected when tensions rise, saying they are more directed at his domestic audience. The military threats come as the U.S. and Iran are conducting talks about constraints to the Iranian nuclear program which have been taking place in Geneva and Oman. Ali commented that it seemed that U.S. patience for a diplomatic solution were wearing thin.
"You're trying to be as coercive as you can to extract the biggest returns from the demands that have been made," Ali told The National News Desk. "But at the same time, if Trump's patience runs out, if the Iranians aren't negotiating in good faith, if the Iranian strategy is just like Russia's in keeping this in an endless loop of diplomacy that goes nowhere, then eventually Trump may execute the plan that the military has put together."
If the Trump administration decides to strike, in another interview Ali told Fox News, "The recent U.S. military buildup against Iran — which now includes two aircraft carrier battle groups, in addition to dozens of other U.S. planes that have been sent to bases in the region and air and missile defense systems — provides President Trump with a significant amount of military capability should he authorize military operations against Iran.
He continued, saying that operations "would very likely be broad in scope against a range of targets like the ruling clerical establishment, senior officials in the IRGC, key ballistic missile and drone production, storage and launch facilities and elements of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, and last for days if not longer."
You can see the interviews here:
Iran leader taunts Trump as talks with U.S. begin, Fox News, February 17, 2026
Military buildup shadows nuclear discussions with Iran, The National News Desk, February 19, 2026
Iraq War flashbacks? Experts say Trump's Iran buildup signals pressure campaign, not regime change, Fox News, February 19, 2026
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