Carriers deployed. Diplomats in Geneva. And contingency plans for weeks of strikes. The U.S.–Iran standoff is entering a dangerous phase.
The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders military action, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the planning.
The preparations suggest a potential escalation beyond previous limited strikes and raise the stakes for diplomatic talks scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to meet Iranian representatives, with Oman serving as mediator.
While Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Trump prefers a negotiated settlement, he cautioned that achieving one would be difficult. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has expanded its regional footprint, deploying an additional aircraft carrier, guided-missile destroyers, fighter aircraft and thousands of troops.
Unlike last year’s “Midnight Hammer” strike — a one-off U.S. operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities — current contingency plans envision a more complex campaign. One official said a sustained operation could target broader Iranian state and security infrastructure, not just nuclear sites.
The risks are considerable. Iran possesses a substantial missile arsenal and has warned it would retaliate against U.S. bases in the region. American forces are stationed across the Middle East, including in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.
Trump has publicly floated the idea of regime change, saying it “seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” though he has also expressed reluctance to deploy ground troops. Current force posture indicates an emphasis on air and naval strikes rather than a large-scale invasion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Trump in Washington this week, underscoring Israel’s insistence that any agreement address issues vital to its security.
Tehran has signaled willingness to negotiate limits on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief but has rejected linking talks to its missile program.
With diplomacy and deterrence unfolding simultaneously, the coming days could determine whether Geneva becomes a turning point — or merely a pause before a wider confrontation.
