Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The United States military is currently preparing for the possibility of continued military operations for weeks against Iran. This step is prepared if President Donald Trump gives the order to launch an attack which is predicted to trigger a much more serious conflict than previous tensions.
Two United States officials revealed that the disclosure of this sensitive plan automatically increases the risk in ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. However, these officials asked that their identities be kept confidential considering the secret and strategic nature of the planning.
So far, diplomats from the United States and Iran actually held talks in Oman last week to revive diplomacy regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. However, at the same time, Trump is gathering military strength in the region, raising fears of new military action.
United States officials said that the Pentagon had sent an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East last Friday. This delivery includes thousands of additional troops, fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and other combat forces capable of launching attacks as well as defense.
President Donald Trump, while speaking to US troops at a military base in North Carolina, admitted that so far the process of reaching an agreement with Iran has been very difficult to carry out.
“Sometimes you have to have fear. That’s the only thing that’s really going to make a situation manageable,” Trump said.
Responding to preparations for potentially ongoing military operations, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated that President Trump was in full control of all possible actions to be taken against Iran.
“President Trump has all options on the table when it comes to Iran. He listens to multiple perspectives on any issue, but makes final decisions based on what is best for our country and national security,” Kelly said.
Last year, the United States also sent two aircraft carriers to the region during an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. However, operation “Midnight Hammer” last June was a single strike in which stealth bombers flew from the United States to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, which Iran then responded with a limited retaliatory attack on US bases in Qatar.
Officials explained that the planning being carried out this time was much more complex than previous operations. In a sustained military campaign, the United States military will not only target nuclear infrastructure, but also other Iranian state and security facilities.
Experts warn that the risks to United States forces would be much greater in this kind of operation because Iran has a very powerful missile arsenal. In addition, it is believed that a retaliatory attack from Iran will increase the risk of a regional-scale conflict breaking out.
The same official added that the United States fully expected Iran to retaliate, which would then trigger mutual attacks and retaliation within a certain period of time. Trump himself has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran because of its nuclear program, ballistic missiles and crackdown on internal dissent.
“The alternative to a diplomatic solution would be very traumatic, very traumatic,” Trump said on Thursday.
On the other hand, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards have given a strong warning that in the event of an attack on Iranian territory, they will retaliate against any United States military base. Currently, the United States maintains bases throughout the Middle East, including in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met Trump in Washington, emphasized the importance of crucial points for Israel’s security in any agreement that might be reached. Iran has said it is ready to discuss limiting its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions, but has refused to link the issue to its missile program.
(tps/wur)
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date:2026-02-14 15:00:00