US military officials say the Pentagon is preparing for a potentially months-long operation against Iran should President Donald Trump authorise military action, describing it as the most dangerous conflict the region could face.
The assessment follows weeks of escalating tensions, with the US deploying a second carrier strike group — led by the USS Gerald R. Ford — to the Middle East to join the USS Abraham Lincoln, guided-missile destroyers, fighter jets, and surveillance aircraft already in the region.
The Gerald R Ford, the US Navy’s newest and largest carrier, had been operating in the Caribbean and participated in earlier operations linked to Venezuela.
The deployment comes days after US and Iranian delegations held indirect talks in Oman last week aimed at reviving diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking to troops in North Carolina on Friday, Trump said his administration was struggling to reach a deal with Iran and hinted at possible military action.
“Sometimes you have to have fear. That’s the only thing that really will get the situation taken care of,” he said.
When asked about regime change in Iran, Trump replied, “Seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.”
“For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking,” he added. “In the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Legs blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off. We’ve been going on for a long time.”
Referring to previous US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last year, Trump said what remained to target was “the dust”.
Officials noted that the Trump administration’s approach has followed a recognisable pattern — similar to the buildup before action against Venezuela and Nicolás Maduro — despite the president’s often unpredictable style.
Experts warn that any war with Iran would differ markedly from past Middle East conflicts or regime-change operations.
Iran is described as a far stronger, better-organised, and fully prepared adversary, supported by Chinese technology and intelligence, as well as Russian and North Korean weaponry and ordnance.
The officials emphasised that such a conflict would carry severe risks not only for Iran and the United States but for the entire Middle East, with the potential for widespread escalation and devastating consequences.
