US Military Buildup Raises Iran Escalation Risk

Washington Institute research director Dana Stroul tells Bloomberg This Weekend that the US military buildup in the Middle East, including a third aircraft carrier, is expanding President Donald Trump's options as diplomacy with Iran remains stalled and Washington weighs its approach to the Houthis in Yemen. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Stroul says US economic sanctions and the naval blockade are putting significant pressure on Iran but have not yet produced major concessions on the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran's nuclear program or its regional activities.