Multiple US news outlets have reported that the American military is positioned to launch strikes against Iran as soon as this weekend, although President Donald Trump has yet to make a final decision. The reports, citing unnamed sources, suggest that sufficient air and naval assets have been assembled in the Middle East to support an attack in the coming days.
The New York Times, CBS News and CNN indicated that resources are in place for an imminent operation, while Reuters, quoting a senior US official, said top national security advisers were briefed in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday that all deployed forces should be ready by mid-March. CBS noted that the timing of any strike could extend beyond the weekend.
Iran is expected to submit a written proposal on resolving the standoff following talks in Geneva on Tuesday, the Reuters report added. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to specify a deadline for a deal, but said Iran “would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump,” adding that “diplomacy” remains the president’s “first option”. She acknowledged “a little bit of progress” from the Geneva discussions but said “we’re still very far apart on some issues”.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group is already in the region, with a second group led by the USS Gerald Ford en route, according to CBS. The Ford was off the coast of west Africa as of Wednesday, based on vessel tracking data. The New York Times reported that dozens of refuelling tankers and more than 50 additional fighter jets are also deployed, while the Pentagon is moving some personnel out of the Middle East to mitigate potential counterattacks.
Preparations are also under way in Israel for possible joint action with the US, the New York Times said, citing two defence officials. Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on Israeli television that US sources described the Geneva talks as a “nothingburger”, and that the Pentagon was preparing for a joint Israeli-US offensive that could last weeks. He added that Iran reportedly has until the end of February to offer concessions.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, warned against any new US strike, telling Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya television that “the consequences are not good”. “No one wants an increase in tension. Everyone understands this is playing with fire,” he said, urging Washington to allow Iran to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme. In June, the US struck key nuclear enrichment sites in Iran, and Israeli jets hit “dozens” of targets across the country, including a long-range missile site in Yazd.
