Washington D.C.: Senior U.S. officials are actively preparing for a possible military strike on Iran, indicating a potential escalation in Washington’s involvement in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. According to sources familiar with internal deliberations, discussions are underway across key federal agencies, with some suggesting that a strike could occur as early as the coming weekend.
President Donald Trump, in recent public remarks, hinted at military action. “I may do it. I may not do it,” he said at the White House on Wednesday, adding that he prefers to make such decisions “one second before it’s due.” He also noted, “I have ideas as to what to do,” underscoring the high-stakes nature of the current standoff.
This marks a significant departure from Trump’s previous approach, which emphasised diplomacy and a nuclear agreement with Iran. However, amid rising concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, his stance has become markedly more hawkish. A senior U.S. official confirmed that “all options remain on the table.”
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy, posting on social media that Iran “had never sought and would never seek nuclear weapons.” Upcoming nuclear talks between Iran and foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany are scheduled for Friday in Geneva, offering a potential path to de-escalation.
Despite international calls for restraint, some voices in Washington are pressing for action. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, argued, “He gave them a chance for diplomacy. I think they made a miscalculation. The sooner we end this threat to mankind, the better.”
However, Trump’s shift toward potential military engagement has sparked significant backlash within his own MAGA base. Influential figures such as Steve Bannon and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have publicly criticised any move toward another Middle Eastern war.
“We can’t do this again,” Bannon said, recalling the toll of previous conflicts like Iraq. “We’ll tear the country apart.” He urged caution, warning that military decisions must have the support of the American public. “This is not something you play around with,” he added.
Greene echoed these sentiments, posting, “Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel-Iran war is not America First/MAGA. We are sick and tired of foreign wars. All of them.”
Even conservative commentator Tucker Carlson expressed strong opposition, confronting Senator Ted Cruz in a widely circulated exchange. Carlson accused Cruz of irresponsibly pushing for regime change in Iran, stating, “You don’t know anything about Iran!”
Amid the growing rift within the Republican Party, Vice President JD Vance attempted to strike a balance, acknowledging public anxiety over foreign entanglements. “People are right to be worried after 25 years of idiotic foreign policy. But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue,” Vance said.
Responding to the criticism, Trump maintained that his actions are rooted in national security concerns. “My supporters are more in love with me today, and I’m in love with them more than they were even at election time,” he said. Acknowledging the dissatisfaction among parts of his base, he insisted, “I’m not looking to fight. But if it’s a choice between them fighting or having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.”
The coming days may prove decisive as the United States weighs diplomacy against the prospect of open conflict in the Middle East.
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New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis in India since 2015, which was twice the global rate of decline and credited it to the expansion of treatment coverage.
India's TB incidence, which refers to new cases emerging each year, reduced by 21 per cent, from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh population in 2024, according to the World Health Organisation's Global TB Report 2025.
The reduction is almost double the pace of the decline observed globally at 12 per cent, the Health Ministry said.
"India's fight against TB is achieving remarkable momentum. The latest WHO Global tuberculosis report 2025 highlights that India has recorded a commendable reduction in TB incidence since 2015 and it is nearly twice the global rate of decline," Modi said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister said the decline in incidence of TB in India was one of the sharpest drops seen anywhere in the world.
"Equally heartening is the expansion of treatment coverage, the fall in 'missing cases' and the sustained rise in treatment success. I compliment all those who have worked towards achieving this success. We remain committed to ensuring a healthy and fit India," Modi said.
