This is the gamble both sides are taking for better or for worse. Unfortunately unless there's a user here with intricate knowledge of Iran's nuclear development program and is privy to incredibly secure details we have no idea how close or far they are. Optimistically, even if they have in good faith avoided the development of nukes, they have the infrastructure as well as deep institutional knowledge of nuclear science and rocketry that I think there always was some truth to western propaganda about how they're literally about to develop nukes.

Possible that they do not wish to necessarily overcommit especially since China I just did naval drills with their own carriers in the WestPac meaning the US is actually outnumbered right now. I think the hope is still to force the Iranians back onto the negotiating table rather than say soften them up for an actual invasion.

Using B-2s in any capacity would be an extreme escalation at this point as they are nuclear capable so Iran would be motivated to immediately push their own nuclear or similar option preemptively if they caught wind of such a build up which would take time. I would imagine there would be a large amount of push back within the American leadership apparatus against such a suggestion as their use would decrease war readiness for the west pacific theater as well.

RE: First point about China I would hazard to guess that in this area the confidence of any pro-retaliatory hardliners is bolstered by the completion of the China-Iran rail line. I would imagine it's also part of the reason why talks of closing the strait have even been brought up. Even if global shipping is disrupted, supply lines through the inner continent would still be operational to some capacity allowing both the export of oil and import of the raw material necessary for long term resistance. Furthermore, rail lines are far easier to repair and support even in the case of attempted sabotage or bombardment compared to ships.

At the very minimum, the deadline for Israel/US in the ME is the acquisition of the bomb by Iran which could be right around the corner meaning a sharp escalation is probable IMO.

Tomorrow, in an urgent convention, the Iranian parliament will very likely vote to invoke Article 10 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which allows signatories to withdraw from the treaty in case of extraordinary circumstances or threats to a nation's most vital interests.

Completely expected at this point. I've personally thought since the retaliatory strikes and the relatively hard line stance the Iranians have projected that escalation towards either the complete destruction of the Iranian state or the completion of their nuclear capabilities and the collapse of Israel/US influence in the region are the only two possible outcomes. Any hope that Iran would forgo nuclear capabilities was completely shattered with the attempted decapitation strike. It is clear to them the west cannot be trusted and thus their continued existence as a state and people can only be secured with the bomb.

On the flip side I disagree with some commentators who view the events of the past week as within the US/Israel's expectations. I think the overall reaction by Israeli society as well as the sudden reactionary movement of US naval assets into the region show that the calculus for the decapitation strike was likely to induce enough chaos and damage to Iranian leadership that they would be forced back to the negotiating table at a much weaker position or even better a coup could be incited with the loss of leadership. Now the calculus has changed since this has failed.

If nuclear capabilities are inevitable for Iran than western influence in the region will wane if nothing is done in the near term as a nuclear capable opposition means many hard power options are off the table. This doesn't even go into the possible spread of nuclear capabilities in the region or even worldwide if the taboo of nuclear acquisition is broken. This is not only existential in nature for Israel as a state due to its expansionary nature but also damaging towards the US's global influence in terms of military which has used the taboo of nuclear proliferation as a means of exerting its own hard power. The West cannot therefore back down now. I'm fully convinced a continued escalation from this point going forward into an eventual war involving the United States in some capacity.

Kyle Rittenhouse copycat perhaps?

Honestly, coming to this site and seeing comments like this is one of the only few ways I can get external validation that it's not me that's going crazy. Keep on fighting the good fight comrade.

There are a couple of points to consider the biggest one being that Americans as a user base are but a fraction of the global base,less than 10% iirc, and one of the hardest to monetize. Outside of financial considerations it's worth more to keep tiktok just for the global soft power it exerts on the other parts of the world and to send a message as well.

Safety issues aside there's actually a bit of a social aspect to this. Due to the prevalence of both carpooling and slow traffic many young people and families use the entertainment system for the passengers. Karaoke is really popular iirc so in order to stay competitive all new cars have to come with these features.