The U.S. military has positioned air and naval forces in the Middle East for potential strikes against Iran as soon as this weekend, according to multiple media reports, though President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision.
News outlets including the New York Times, CBS News and CNN reported Wednesday that sufficient resources are already in place to launch an attack within days. Reuters, citing a senior U.S. official, suggested a broader timeline, saying advisers were told in a White House Situation Room meeting that forces should be fully deployed by mid-March. CBS also indicated that any strike could extend beyond the coming weekend.
The heightened readiness comes as the Trump administration presses Iran to halt its nuclear program and reach an agreement with Washington. Iran is expected to submit a written proposal outlining a path forward following talks held Tuesday in Geneva.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there had been limited progress in the Geneva discussions but that significant gaps remain. The administration continues to frame diplomacy as its preferred option, while warning that military force remains possible if negotiations fail.
Trump met Wednesday with the two advisers leading indirect discussions with Iran: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid. Ravid reported that U.S. sources viewed the Geneva talks as unproductive and that Pentagon planners were preparing for the possibility of a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive that could last weeks. Some officials believe Iran may face a deadline at the end of February to offer meaningful concessions.
The military buildup includes the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group already operating in the region and a second carrier group, the USS Gerald Ford, en route to the Middle East. Vessel tracking data placed the Ford off the west coast of Africa on Wednesday. Additional deployments include dozens of refueling tankers and more than 50 fighter jets, according to the New York Times.
At the same time, the Pentagon has reportedly begun moving some personnel out of the region to reduce vulnerability to potential Iranian counterattacks should strikes occur. Israeli officials are also preparing for the possibility of participating in an operation alongside the United States, the Times reported.
Source: The Guardian