Exclusive-US military preparing for potentially weeks-long Iran operations
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali
WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) – The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of weeks of sustained operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders a strike, two U.S. officials told Reuters. This situation could turn into a much more serious conflict between the two countries than has been seen before.
These statements of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the plan, increase the risks for the diplomacy between the USA and Iran.
US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman last week in an attempt to revive diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear program after Trump amassed military forces in the region, raising fears of new military action.
The Pentagon will send an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East and add thousands more troops along with fighter jets, guided missile destroyers and other firepower that can carry out and defend against attacks, U.S. officials said Friday.
Speaking to US soldiers at a base in North Carolina on Friday, Trump said it was “difficult to make a deal” with Iran.
“Sometimes you have to be afraid. That’s the only thing that will really get the situation done,” Trump said.
Asked to comment on preparations for a possible US military operation, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: “President Trump is keeping all options regarding Iran on the table.”
“He listens to a variety of perspectives on any issue but makes the final decision based on what is best for our country and our national security,” Kelly said. he said.
The Pentagon declined to comment.
When the USA attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities last year, it sent two aircraft carriers to the region.
However, June’s “Midnight Hammer” operation was essentially a one-time US strike, with stealth bombers flying from the US to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran launched a very limited retaliatory attack on the US base in Qatar.
RISKS ARE INCREASING
Planning this time was more complex, officials said.
In a sustained campaign, the US military could strike not only nuclear infrastructure but also Iranian state and security facilities, one of the officials said. The official declined to provide specific details.
Experts say the risks to US forces in such an operation against Iran, which has a formidable missile arsenal, would be much greater. Iran’s retaliatory attacks also increase the risk of regional conflict.
The same official said that “the United States fully expected Iran to retaliate, which led to back-and-forth attacks and retaliation over a period of time.”
The White House and Pentagon did not respond to questions about the risks of retaliation or regional conflict.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and the crushing of domestic dissent. On Thursday, he warned that the alternative to a diplomatic solution would be “very traumatic, very traumatic.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned that they could retaliate against any US military base if an attack is made on Iranian territory.
The United States has bases in the Middle East, including Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump in Washington on Wednesday and said that if a deal is reached with Iran, it “must include elements that are vital for Israel.”
Iran has said it is ready to discuss restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, but has ruled out linking the issue to missiles.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee and Rosalba O’Brien)
