I don’t think Iran has anything to lose. They either call americas / trumps bluff or they cease to exist.
What would be the likely implications if the US does deploy a nuclear war head at Iran.
Would the Russians retaliate? What would be the world reaction?
I think if the US did decide to fire a missle it would be a SLBM rather than an ICBM as that way they can avoid the trajectory alarming Russia or China.
Having said that allegedly russias launches have a deadman computer switch so god know what could happen.
I was thinking the same. Civilization ending talk makes me think nukes. I say ‘he’s not that mad’ or ‘not that dumb’ in my head, but I’m honestly not sure anymore. Especially with Hegseths Holy War going off in Trumps ear.
It would be the ultimate power move. But would potentially kill millions of people. People who he said he was defending by invading.
It is TACO Tuesday after all! He is likely to chicken out…
But, if he actually gives an order to go and bomb a load of civilian cities, power stations, dams, etc, I do wonder at what point the military says no? Or at what point is the 25th amendment used?
My understanding of the US nuclear launch protocol is that if the nation is attacked one of the joint chiefs can act as a second person to authenticate.
However if it is not in a state of conflict then the second person can be a cleared cabinet member.
The point that the 25th amendment would be used is if Trump orders a nuclear attack & it’s either carried out or the second person refuses.
So in the scenario Trump orders strike with nuclear weapons, Vance refuses as second person but the Secretary of State for war concurs.
Attack is launched then Vance moves to remove from office.
Hopefully, the order would be refused if seen as illegal, such as ordering an indiscriminate nuclear attack when conventional options exist.
Not a wpns / tactics expert (although I did have involvement with buckets of on Vulcans ), but the USA has so many conventional options available - I fail to see what strategic military tgts have yet to be taken out that would need nuclear options.
Well, as far as conventional aircraft are showing on FlightRadar24, there’s comparatively little activity near TLV (one RAF Shadow is playing in the area), with only 3 x KC135 aircraft around, no combat aircraft as yet. Nothing displayed that I can see near UAE / Iran.
on Vulcans 
), but the USA has so many conventional options available - I fail to see what strategic military tgts have yet to be taken out that would need nuclear options.
