WASHINGTON — As recently as late January, the Pentagon lacked the immediate capacity to fully support a military strike on Iran authorized by President Donald Trump, according to three U.S. Officials. Concerns centered on insufficient air defenses to protect forces stationed throughout the Middle East from potential Iranian retaliation.
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, said that a significant portion of military equipment amassed in the region over two decades of conflict, including during the recent U.S. Campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, had been withdrawn. This left the approximately 30,000 U.S. Troops stationed across eleven countries vulnerable to counterattacks.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated, “The President has all options on the table with respect to Iran. He listens to diverse perspectives on any matter, but makes the final decision based on what is best for our country and national security.”
Since then, the Pentagon has been working to bolster its defensive and offensive capabilities in the region. Eight guided-missile destroyers capable of intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles have been deployed, alongside land-based ballistic missile defense systems and submarines equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, including three warships armed with Tomahawk missiles, is currently operating in the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the eastern Mediterranean.
The build-up coincides with diplomatic efforts involving the U.S., Israel, Iran, and Arab nations. Despite these talks, the Pentagon has continued preparations for potential military action. Military officials describe the process as “putting the house in order,” ensuring both offensive and defensive readiness in anticipation of a likely Iranian response.
General Joseph Votel, former commander of U.S. Central Command, emphasized the importance of defensive preparations. “Defensively, we have to make sure, before we do anything, that our defenses are in order… so that we are prepared for the inevitable response that comes back against U.S. Interests or our partners,” he said.
Trump initially framed potential action as a response to the suppression of Iranian protests late last year, but has since refocused on Iran’s nuclear program, which Iranian officials maintain is for civilian purposes. According to Vali Nasr, an expert on Iran and professor at Johns Hopkins University, Trump’s initial threats and subsequent pause to allow for military preparation have alerted Iran and provided time to strengthen its own retaliatory threats.
Following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, Trump stated on social media that “nothing definitive was agreed to, other than insisting that negotiations continue with Iran.”
Options under consideration include targeted military action against Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities, as well as potential deployment of U.S. Special forces to pursue specific Iranian military targets, according to the three U.S. Officials.
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has been directed to leave the Caribbean, where it recently supported efforts to address the situation in Venezuela, and deploy to the Middle East as part of the ongoing pressure campaign against Iran. B-2 and other long-range bombers in the United States have also been placed on higher alert.
Additional EA-18 Growlers, electronic warfare aircraft capable of suppressing enemy radar, have been dispatched to a base in Jordan, joining those already deployed with the Lincoln carrier strike group. Flight tracking data indicates the U.S. Is also repositioning or introducing additional refueling and reconnaissance aircraft to the region.
Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., a retired four-star Marine general and former commander of U.S. Central Command, noted that Iran is likely taking the U.S. Military build-up seriously, given Trump’s past actions, including the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and the strike on Iranian nuclear facilities last June. “The Iranians fear Trump as he killed Soleimani and attacked their nuclear facilities,” McKenzie said. “They fear him because he takes direct action.”
