Iran’s latest drone provocations and interference with merchant shipping show the regime remains a direct threat to regional security and regional stability. This behavior leaves little room for ambiguity and reinforces the need for sustained military readiness rather than misplaced restraint. The massive U.S. naval deployment has shifted the balance, forcing Tehran to reconsider negotiations after years of defiance and escalation. Even without regional bases, American naval power alone is sufficient to deter—or defeat—Iran should diplomacy fail.