Iran threatens pre-emptive strikes; US questions Tehran leadership authority

Iran's military has signaled readiness for pre-emptive strikes and threatened decisive action against US forces if a ground operation is launched, claiming an updated target database. Concurrently, the US has publicly questioned the actual authority of Iranian President Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Araghchi, indicating a potential shift in US assessment of Iranian decision-making. This combination of heightened military rhetoric and US uncertainty regarding Iranian leadership's control raises the risk of miscalculation and broader conflict.