The U.S. military is readying for possibly extended operations against Iran should President Donald Trump authorize an attack, according to two anonymous officials. This preparation coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts, including talks in Geneva mediated by Oman. Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi has called for U.S. intervention to hasten the regime's downfall.
Two U.S. officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the planning, informed Reuters that the military is preparing for sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if ordered by Trump. This planning is more complex than last year's "Midnight Hammer" operation, which involved a one-off strike on Iranian nuclear facilities using stealth bombers from the U.S., followed by a limited Iranian retaliation on a base in Qatar. In a potential campaign, targets could include Iranian state and security facilities beyond just nuclear sites, though specifics were not provided.
Amid these preparations, Trump has bolstered U.S. forces in the Middle East. On Friday, officials announced the Pentagon is deploying an additional aircraft carrier, along with thousands of troops, fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers, and other assets for attacks and defense. Trump, speaking after a military event at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, suggested changing Iran's government "seems like that would be the best thing that could happen," adding, "there are people." He criticized prolonged talks, stating, "For 47 years, they've been talking and talking and talking," and reiterated skepticism about ground troops, saying last year, "the last thing you want to do is ground forces."
Diplomacy continues, with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner set to negotiate with Iran on Tuesday in Geneva, mediated by Oman representatives. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted on Saturday that while Trump prefers a deal, "that's very hard to do." Iran has expressed willingness to discuss nuclear curbs in exchange for sanctions relief but rejects linking it to missiles. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly affirmed, "President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran," emphasizing decisions based on national security.
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last shah and based in the U.S., urged intervention on Saturday from the Munich Security Conference sidelines, saying it could "save lives" and accelerate the regime's collapse amid recent protests and arrests. He stated, "We are hoping that this attack will expedite the process and the people can be finally back in the streets and take it all the way to the ultimate regime's downfall." Trump has threatened strikes over Iran's nuclear program, missiles, and internal dissent, warning on Thursday that alternatives to diplomacy would be "very traumatic."
Experts highlight risks from Iran's missile arsenal, expecting retaliation against U.S. bases in the region, including Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, potentially escalating to regional conflict. Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned of reprisals against any U.S. base if struck. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting Trump on Wednesday, stressed any deal must include elements vital to Israel.
