Iran and the U.S. lean into gunboat diplomacy as nuclear talks hang in balance

In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the USS Gerald R. Ford embarked on the first of its sea trials to test various state-of-the-art systems on its own power for the first time, April 8, 2017, from Newport News, Va.

Iran and the United States leaned into gunboat diplomacy Thursday, with Tehran holding drills with Russia and the Americans bringing another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast.

(Image credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni/AP)