Weeks-long US strike on Iran could begin soon, says Report | World News
It was reported that the United States may be approaching a major military conflict with Iran and a long-term operation could begin soon, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Report points to possible military action lasting a week
Any U.S. strike would likely resemble a protracted, weeks-long military operation rather than a short, targeted operation like the one in Venezuela last month, the report said. Sources told Axios that Washington could possibly conduct a joint U.S.-Israeli operation larger than last June’s 12-day war.
Add Zee News as Preferred Source
Nuclear talks amid rising tensions
The report comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran following the second round of nuclear talks that concluded in Geneva on Tuesday. US ambassadors Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for important negotiations. While both sides described the discussions as constructive, some sources told The Jerusalem Post that significant gaps remained.
A US official said progress had been made but acknowledged that significant differences remained.
“Progress has been made, but there are still many details that need to be discussed. The Iranians have said they will come back within the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the obvious gaps in our positions,” the official said. he said.
Iran is expected to return within two weeks with more detailed proposals aimed at narrowing those differences.
US military buildup in the region
Even as diplomacy continued, Washington intensified pressure on Tehran and steadily increased its military presence in the region. This buildup reportedly includes two aircraft carriers, nearly a dozen warships, hundreds of warplanes and numerous air defense systems deployed or en route. More than 150 US cargo planes transported weapons and ammunition to the region, along with approximately 50 additional fighter jets, including F-35s, F-22s and F-16s.
Verbal fight between Trump and Khamenei
Both sides made strong statements before the Geneva talks. Citing the June 2025 B-2 bomber strike as a reminder of U.S. military capability, President Donald Trump warned of “consequences of no-deal” and called on Iran to be “reasonable” in the next round of negotiations.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded with a stern warning against Trump’s repeated claims about America’s military superiority.
Khamenei, in a series of posts on he said.
Referring to the increasing US naval presence, Khamenei added:
“Americans constantly say that they sent a warship to Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous military equipment. But what is more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.”
Background: The collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal
Current tensions stem from the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and world powers, including the United States. According to the agreement, Tehran limited its uranium enrichment rate to 3.67 percent and reduced its stock to 300 kilograms. The deal unraveled in 2018 after Trump unilaterally withdrew the US, setting the stage for years of escalating friction between Washington and Tehran.
