Pentagon Prepares Weeks-Long Iran Campaign, U.S. Bases Face Expected Retaliation

The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two U.S. officials told Reuters. The planning envisions a far more serious confrontation than previous limited exchanges between Washington and Tehran.

At the same time, Trump publicly raised the possibility of regime change. Speaking after a military event at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, he said it “seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.” He added, “For 47 years, they've been talking and talking and talking.”

Trump also warned that if diplomacy fails, the alternative would “be very traumatic, very traumatic.”

According to Reuters, the current military planning is more complex than the June operation known as “Midnight Hammer.” That strike involved stealth bombers flying from the United States to hit Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran responded with a limited retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar.

Officials now say a sustained campaign could expand beyond nuclear sites. One of the officials told Reuters that potential targets could include Iranian state and security facilities, not only nuclear infrastructure. The official declined to provide further detail.

The Pentagon has already strengthened its regional posture. A second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East in the coming weeks, providing both offensive reach and layered air defense. The U.S. has deployed additional fighter jets, while carrier-based aircraft and long-range B-2 bombers are now on heightened alert.

Defensive systems are also being reinforced. Patriot and THAAD air defense batteries are being deployed to protect U.S. forces. Reuters reported that national security officials had previously expressed concern that more than 30,000 American troops in the Middle East lacked sufficient air defense coverage in the event of an Iranian strike.

U.S. officials told Reuters they fully expect Iran to retaliate if American forces strike. According to Reuters, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned that in case of attacks on Iranian territory, it could retaliate against any U.S. military base. The United States maintains bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Asked about the preparations, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran.” She added, “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.” The Pentagon declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi told Reuters that U.S. intervention could accelerate change inside Iran. “We are hoping that this attack will expedite the process and the people can be finally back in the streets and take it all the way to the ultimate regime's downfall,” he said.