The United States armed forces are drawing up plans for a campaign that could stretch for weeks, should President Donald Trump authorise military action against Iran, according to Reuters.
Such a move, two American officials warned, risks escalating tensions into a conflict of far greater intensity than any previous confrontation between the two nations.
The revelations, offered by officials on the condition of anonymity, significantly heighten the pressure surrounding ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
One official indicated that, in the event of a prolonged offensive, US forces could expand their target list beyond nuclear facilities to include government buildings and security installations. No further operational details were disclosed.
As per Reuters, military analysts caution that such an undertaking would expose American personnel to significantly higher risks, given Iran's extensive missile capabilities. Any counterstrike by Tehran could draw neighbouring states into a broader regional confrontation.
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The official added that Washington is under no illusions about the likelihood of retaliation, anticipating a sustained exchange of strikes between the two sides.
According to Al Jazeera, President Trump has announced the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, signalling a further tightening of US pressure on Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions.
Addressing reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump said the USS Gerald R Ford would soon depart the Caribbean for the region, as strains persist in the wake of indirect negotiations held in Oman last week.
“If we need it, we'll have it ready, a very big force,” said Trump, warning that it would be a “bad day for Iran” if it could not strike a deal.
President Donald Trump has, on several occasions, warned that Iran could face military strikes over its nuclear ambitions, ballistic missile development and suppression of domestic unrest. On Thursday, he cautioned that failure to secure a diplomatic breakthrough would result in consequences that would be “very traumatic”, reported Reuters.
The United States operates a network of military bases across the Middle East, with facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Mr Trump in Washington on Wednesday, stressing that any accord with Tehran must safeguard what he described as “elements that are vital to Israel."
According to the BBC, Washington has called on Tehran to cease enriching uranium, while Netanyahu has demanded that Iran rein in its ballistic missile development and end its backing of armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
For its part, Iran has indicated a willingness to curb aspects of its nuclear activity in exchange for the easing of sanctions. However, President Masoud Pezeshkian has cautioned that the country would "not yield to their excessive demands".
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