United States is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long military operations against Iran, two U.S. officials told Reuters as the images of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group sailing and flying in formation were released on Sunday.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the planning, said the military is positioning assets in the region should President Donald Trump order an attack.
The disclosure comes as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran continue. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to hold negotiations with Iranian representatives in Geneva on Tuesday (17 February), with Oman acting as mediator.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that while Trump prefers reaching an agreement with Tehran, “that’s very hard to do.”
Meanwhile, Iran says it's pursuing a nuclear agreement with the U.S. that delivers economic benefits for both sides, an Iranian diplomat was reported as saying on Sunday.
Iran and the U.S. renewed negotiations earlier this month to tackle their decades-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme and avert a new military confrontation.
Military buildup in the region
At the same time, the Pentagon has increased its military presence in the Middle East. U.S. officials said on Friday that an additional aircraft carrier would be deployed to the region, along with thousands of troops, fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and other military assets capable of carrying out and defending against strikes.
Speaking on Friday after a military event at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump openly raised the possibility of changing Iran’s government.
However, Trump has long expressed scepticism about deploying ground troops to Iran. The current force posture suggests that any potential military action would likely rely primarily on air and naval operations.
Last month, in Venezuela, Trump demonstrated a willingness to use special operations forces in a raid targeting President Nicolas Maduro.
Asked about preparations for a potentially sustained U.S. military operation, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran.”
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Iran has called for a diplomatic solution after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected its Hormuz proposal, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was awaiting a definitive U.S. response through mediators.
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
British police have arrested five men on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act after a major security incident was declared near RAF Fairford, a British air base used by U.S. air forces in Gloucestershire, England.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
SpaceX’s next-generation Starship rocket reached orbit for the first time on Monday despite an unexpected engine shutdown, deploying 26 new Starlink satellites before ending its shortened test flight with a controlled touchdown in the Pacific.
EU defence ministers have stepped up talks on military readiness and long-term support for Ukraine, as pressure mounts on Europe to close critical defence gaps and strengthen its ability to respond to security threats.
China and the U.S. have unveiled a broader package of economic cooperation after President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, covering tariffs, agriculture, coal, finance, aviation and artificial intelligence.
The European Union is considering targeted accession roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania, offering clearer reform priorities and timelines as Brussels looks to speed up enlargement.
A decade ago, a far-right party winning a major Western European election would have caused a political shock. Today, such results are increasingly becoming part of Europe’s political landscape.
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