Washington, Feb 19 (.) A US military operation against Iran could be imminent if Tehran continues to reject President Donald Trump’s demands in ongoing negotiations. Though President Donald Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether he’ll authorize such actions, CNN reported, quoting sources.
The White House has been briefed that the military could be ready for an attack by the weekend, after a significant buildup in recent days of air and naval assets in the Middle East, the sources said. But one source cautioned that Trump has privately argued both for and against military action and polled advisers and allies on what the best course of action is.
The massive US military buildup in the Middle East indicates that the United States may be ready to initiate a bombing campaign against Iran, as the number of US military personnel currently stationed in the region is sufficient for a large-scale operation that could last for several weeks.
The United States has deployed 50 additional F-35, F-22, and F-16 fighter jets to the region within the last 24 hours alone as part of a broader military buildup. With a second aircraft carrier heading to the region and hundreds of strike, support, and command aircraft already positioned nearby, the scale of the deployment is highly unusual. Former Pentagon official and Atlantic Council fellow Alex Plitsas described the buildup as unprecedented in recent decades.
More than 150 military transport flights have delivered weapons and ammunition to the region in recent days, the report said.
The probability of a US military operation against Iran in the coming weeks stands at 90%, Axios reported, citing an unnamed adviser to President Trump.
The War Zone, citing open-source flight tracking data, reported that U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22 Raptor fighters, as well as E-3 Sentry airborne early warning aircraft, have been crossing the Atlantic or have recently arrived in Europe. The outlet said 12 U.S. warships are currently operating in the area of responsibility of U.S. Central Command and that more than 30,000 American troops are stationed at bases across the Middle East. It added that it has no information confirming whether Trump has made a final decision to strike Iran but noted that such force concentrations are typically seen ahead of long-term operations and that additional deployments are expected in the coming days.
“What we have amassed is an unprecedented combination of land-based attack aircraft, command-and-control assets, and sea-based platforms,” Plitsas said. “We haven’t seen a buildup like this in this region in decades.”
The USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to become the second U.S. aircraft carrier operating in the Middle East, significantly expanding American naval airpower in the area.
The current deployment, including carrier strike groups, land-based aircraft, refueling tankers, and surveillance and command systems, would allow Trump to order a large-scale air and naval campaign without committing ground troops.
Despite the show of force, the White House maintains that diplomacy remains the president’s preferred path.
“Diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and this administration,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday.
However, Vice President JD Vance indicated this week that Iran has failed to meet several of Trump’s negotiating “red lines,” despite limited progress during talks in Geneva.
“It was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to acknowledge and work through,” Vance said in an interview.
At the same time, officials acknowledge that major gaps remain in negotiations. Leavitt said Iran is expected to provide additional details in the coming weeks, and Trump will continue consulting closely with his national security team.
Notably, military experts estimate it will take roughly two weeks for the USS Gerald R. Ford to arrive in the region, a timeline that aligns with previous diplomatic deadlines set by Trump.
For Washington, Iran’s nuclear program, particularly its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, remains the central concern. Israel, however, is increasingly focused on Tehran’s expanding ballistic missile arsenal, which Plitsas said is growing rapidly.
Meanwhile, a top administration national security official, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, met in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday and briefed Trump about their indirect talks with Iran that occurred a day earlier.
. .
