As the United States continues a significant military buildup in the Middle East, Iran has taken steps to signal its readiness for war, including fortifying its nuclear sites and rebuilding missile production facilities.

Iran and the United States are waging gunboat diplomacy as talks over Tehran’s nuclear program hang in the balance.

As Trump pressures Iran, he's spoken of an "armada" heading for the Mideast, but there's another massive movement of American fire power in the air.

DUBAI, Feb ⁠17 (Reuters) - ⁠Parts of ⁠the Strait of ​Hormuz will close ‌for a few ‌hours ⁠on ⁠Tuesday due to 'security precautions' for ​shipping safety, semi-official Fars news ​agency reported, as the ⁠Revolutionary Guards ⁠conduct ⁠military drills ​in the waterway.

Just as the talks got underway in Geneva, Iranian state media reported that parts of the strategic Strait of Hormuz will close while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard conducts military drills.

The US military is continuing a significant buildup of air and naval assets in the Middle East ahead of planned talks with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday. The pieces are being moved into place both to intimidate Tehran and to have options to strike inside the country should negotiations over its nuclear program fail,

Satellite images show that Iran has been reinforcing key military and nuclear facilities, including sites struck by the US and Israel last year, as possible war looms between Tehran and Washington. The hurried work has begun at several bases across Iran,

Iran temporarily shut part of the key Strait of Hormuz as tensions with the US continue to mount. Tuesday’s move is the first time the Middle Eastern waterway has been closed since the 1980s, and came as Iran’s ayatollah issued fresh threats against the United States.