Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated significantly following the collapse of diplomatic negotiations in Geneva, raising the prospect of military conflict. President Donald Trump has authorized a substantial military build-up in the Middle East, the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which includes the deployment of an experimental U.S. military drone unit known as Task Force Scorpion.

Task Force Scorpion comprises kamikaze drones capable of self-detonation. These drones, successfully tested in the Arabian Gulf in December and reportedly costing approximately $35,000 each, are produced in Arizona. They are designed for one-way attacks, reconnaissance, and maritime strikes, possessing an extensive range and operating autonomously. They are expected to target Iranian nuclear facilities, road networks, and missile launch sites. US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins stated the squadron was established to rapidly equip warfighters with evolving combat drone capabilities. Beyond drones, the U.S. has also sent advanced F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Israel on standby and massed significant naval assets in the region, including two aircraft carrier strike groups, attack aircraft, plane-refuelling equipment, and submarines equipped with Tomahawk missiles.

Diplomatic negotiations between American and Iranian officials collapsed on Thursday in Geneva amidst intractable disputes over Iran's nuclear program. Key issues of contention included ending uranium enrichment, dismantling Iran's nuclear facilities, and the fate of its highly enriched uranium stocks. The latest round of talks ended without a deal, with both sides remaining divided on fundamental issues.

Iran maintains it has no goal to build a nuclear weapon but strongly rejects U.S. demands for