An official with Iran's Republican Guard declared that the presence of a US aircraft carrier no longer presents a threat, but instead presents a opportunity (archived). This comes as the criminal organization calling itself the US Government has gone on tilt threatening regimes around the world. while suffering from a pronounced decline in international influence and capacity for action.

Used for force projection in past decades, US aircraft carriers appear to be increasingly vulnerable to comparatively inexpensive anti-ship missiles weilded by regional powers and an attack on Iran by the USG would lead to a test of this hypothesis. At a time when the US, increasingly distant allies, and client occupation governments are strugging against non-state actors an attack on Iran is more likely to continue the USG's embarrassment streak than rebuild waning credibility.