Trump and Iran may be on the brink of a war that would likely be devastating to both sides

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

• The US could be on the brink of war with Iran after weeks of rising tensions. 
• The US has sent bombers, an aircraft-carrier strike group, and more to the Middle East in response to unspecified threats to US forces or interests in the region from Tehran, Iran's capital, prompting the Iranian government to issue warnings about the consequences of an attack. 
• Critics of the Trump administration feel the president's Iran policy is being driven by national security adviser John Bolton, who has supported military strikes against Iran in the past. 
• A war with Iran would likely be geopolitically and economically disastrous while further destabilizing a region that has been consumed by conflict for years.  
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Tensions between the US and Iran have reached historic heights in recent weeks, prompting fears of a military confrontation that could escalate into all-out war.

Here's a breakdown of what's going on, how we got here, and what the stakes are. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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