Pentagon mobilizes forces while diplomacy narrows, signaling historic showdown over Tehran’s nuclear threat.
Top national security officials have informed President Donald Trump that the US military stands ready to launch potential strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, according to reports. While no final order has been issued, the White House is actively weighing the strategic calculus of action versus restraint.
Sources familiar with high-level deliberations describe discussions as fluid, with military options fully prepared but timing still under review. Officials stress that readiness does not automatically signal imminent action — yet the level of preparedness reflects growing urgency over Iran’s nuclear trajectory.
Pentagon Shifts Assets as Deterrence Signals Rise
In advance of possible operations — or potential Iranian retaliation — the Pentagon is temporarily repositioning certain personnel from the Middle East to Europe and the United States. Defense officials characterize such moves as standard precautionary measures taken ahead of potential escalation.
Meanwhile, US naval power in the region continues to expand. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is already deployed in the Middle East, while the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group is en route, currently positioned off West Africa. Senior officials have indicated that full force deployment should be in place by mid-March.
One administration source suggested the probability of conflict in the coming weeks is high, though President Trump has not made a final decision.
Diplomacy Still on the Table
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that while there are compelling arguments for a strike, diplomacy remains the president’s preferred path. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran in Geneva are ongoing, with Iran reportedly preparing a written proposal aimed at avoiding confrontation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to Israel on February 28 for consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, underscoring tight US-Israel coordination on the Iranian file.
Strategic Crossroads
Israeli officials have confirmed a high level of preparedness and close coordination with Washington, while reiterating that the final call rests with the US president.
At the heart of the debate lies a defining question for regional security: whether Iran’s nuclear ambitions can be curbed through negotiation — or whether decisive military action will be required to prevent a strategic tipping point in the Middle East.
