The Atlantic couldn't be more socialist biased if they went full on commie.
Won't bother with this tripe.
(With apologies to tripe.)

I'm betting on Fake News. the carrier group moing toward the Persion Gulf is most likely real Iran keeps threaten to close the Straight of Hormuz which is essentially a Declaration of war agains about 1/3 of the world. The presence of the carrier group with strike bomber available to support is a deterrent used by many previous President. the main difference is that President Trump ihas most likely already given specific orders via the Joint Chief as to the level of provocation required to set things in motion.
As far as the situation in Venezuela is concerned no such options appear to be on the table.
The better option for Iran is economic. Their economy is in shambles and would require little to totally destabilize it to the point of total collapse. I would suggest going that route rather than shooting. Of course we could always bomb them into the stne age and shoot the survivors if nobody like the other options (Fake, fake, fake optionion.)