WASHINGTON — The Pentagon authorized a sortie of US Air Force B-52 strategic bombers over the Middle East for the second time in just two days, flexing long-range muscle as the Trump administration pressures Iran to come to the negotiating table over its advancing nuclear enrichment.

The B-52s out of Royal Air Force base Fairford in the UK flew over six US-aligned countries in the region, linking up with a fighter escort provided by one country in the region, US Central Command said in a statement.

On Tuesday, a pair of USAF B-52s launched from Fairford traversed the air space of nine countries in the region, escorted along the way by fighter aircraft from four Middle Eastern states. Officials at US CENTCOM declined to say which countries took part, citing diplomatic sensitivities.

Why it matters: The overflights come as US President Donald Trump's administration says it aims to halt Iran’s uranium enrichment via diplomatic negotiations,........

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