Iran's shoot-down of a U.S. drone underscores the growing risk of conflict between the countries. If war occurs, President Trump will wish he stayed out, write Aaron David Miller and Richard Sokolsky.
A spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran also says that Tehran is prepared to increase enrichment of uranium beyond what's permitted in the multilateral agreement.
Pointing to a U.S. military video, Trump maintained: "Iran did do it." Meanwhile, the president of the Japanese company operating one of the tankers says he doesn't believe a mine or torpedo was used.
The Japanese prime minister has offered to try to calm nerves between Washington and Tehran amid rising tensions that have followed the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
The White House has talked as if conflict with Iran could soon erupt. U.S. officials said Wednesday another 5,000 military personnel might go to the region. Here's a look at the talk and the risks.
Right now, the best we can hope for is that the administration manages to muddle through and avoid a dangerous and unnecessary war, write former senior State Department officials.