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The U.S. military is preparing for sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if U.S. President Donald Trump orders an attack, officials told Reuters on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Trump signaled on Friday support for regime change in Iran, and the Pentagon reportedly deployed additional aircraft carriers and kept B-2 stealth bombers on heightened alert.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the planning, that "preparations are underway for a more serious conflict than previously seen between the two countries."
"In a sustained campaign, the U.S. military could hit Iranian state and security facilities, not just nuclear infrastructure," one official said, declining to provide specific details.
The same official said, "The United States fully expects Iran to retaliate," leading to back-and-forth strikes and reprisals over a period of time.
The disclosure raises the stakes for diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran, as diplomats from both countries held indirect talks in Oman last week in an effort to revive negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program.
Trump, speaking to reporters after visiting Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Friday, signaled support for regime change in Iran.
"Seems like that would be the best thing that could happen," Trump said.
"For 47 years, they've been talking and talking and talking. 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. So let's see what happens," he added.
When asked who he wants to "take over" Iran, Trump replied, "I don't want to talk about that. There are people."
Trump told U.S. troops at the North Carolina base that reaching a deal with Iran had "been difficult."
"Sometimes you have to have fear. That's the only thing that really will get the situation taken care of," Trump said.
Asked what Iran could do to avoid a U.S. attack, Trump said, "If they give us the right deal, we won't do that—but, you know, historically, they haven't done that. I will say they want to talk. But so far, they do a lot of talking and no action."
U.S. officials said Friday the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers, and other firepower.
The USS Gerald R. Ford will deploy to back up the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, local media reported.
"We have one out there that just arrived. We have it ready. A big, a very big force," Trump said.
"If we have a deal, we could cut it short. It'll be leaving very soon," he added.
The New York Times reported Friday, Feb. 13, that B-2 stealth bombers and other long-range U.S. aircraft capable of striking Iran remain on higher-than-usual alert.
"The Pentagon heightened the alert status nearly a month ago," a senior U.S. official said to The New York Times (NYT).
The aircraft, based in the U.S., could be used in potential strikes targeting Iran's nuclear or ballistic missile facilities if diplomacy fails.
The 30,000 to 40,000 American troops stationed across the Middle East were reportedly low on air defenses to protect them from expected retaliation, leading senior national security officials to urge Trump to delay action until forces were better positioned.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, along with three Tomahawk missile-equipped warships, is leading a group of about a dozen U.S. naval vessels deployed across the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean.
The carrier's F-35 fighters and F/A-18 attack planes are within striking distance of targets in Iran.
The U.S. has also sent more than a dozen additional F-15E attack planes to the region.
Military analysts note that EA-18 Growler radar-jamming aircraft—which escort bombers and signal preparations for major operations—are aboard the Lincoln, and that U.S. Central Command has recently flown some to a base in Jordan.
Flight-tracking data suggests the U.S. is moving additional aircraft, including refueling and reconnaissance planes, closer to the region.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly recently stated that "President Trump has all options on the table concerning Iran."
"He listens to a variety of perspectives on any given issue but makes the final decision based on what is best for our country and national security," Kelly added.
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The planning underway is more complex than June 2025's "Midnight Hammer" operation, the officials said.
That operation was essentially a one-off U.S. attack, with stealth bombers flying from the United States to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran staged a very limited retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar.
The U.S. sent two aircraft carriers to the region last year when it carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.
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