Trump keeps US 'locked and loaded' against Iran as new aircraft carrier, blockade maintain pressure

Key Points:

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised War Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon, highlighting significant damage inflicted on Iran's military, including degradation of its navy and air force, while acknowledging differing political views on his performance.
• President Donald Trump emphasized the U.S. commitment to protecting Middle East allies and maintaining a robust military posture against Iran, including ongoing land and sea blockades and deployment of a fully equipped aircraft carrier, while expressing hope for a diplomatic resolution.
• Diplomatic efforts continue with Trump meeting Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss Iran, signaling potential conflict de-escalation amid Gulf states' preference for maintaining the current naval blockade and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
• French officials formally accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of orchestrating large-scale cyberattacks on commercial refrigeration systems across France, vowing retaliatory measures including EU sanctions and international arrest warrants.
• Saudi Arabia reported an attack on its East-West oil pipeline in the Medina region, causing a limited fire without casualties or operational disruption; meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition destroyed Houthi ballistic missile production sites amid ongoing regional tensions related to the Iran conflict.