U.S. officials cited in a Reuters report say military planners are preparing for a possible multi-week operation against Iran if ordered by President Donald Trump.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The U.S. military is preparing contingency plans for a potential sustained operation against Iran that could last several weeks, according to a Reuters report citing two administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The reported preparations come as Washington increases pressure on Tehran amid ongoing discussions over Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian officials have stated in recent days that the country remains open to diplomacy but is also prepared for military confrontation if talks fail.
According to the officials cited in the report, any military campaign could expand beyond nuclear facilities and include strikes on Iranian state and security infrastructure. One of the sources said such an operation could escalate into “a far more serious conflict” than previous confrontations between the two nations.
The officials also said the United States “fully” expects Iran to respond to any military action, potentially resulting in “back-and-forth strikes and reprisals over a period of time.”
Diplomatic contacts between the two countries resumed earlier this month in Oman, marking the first direct negotiations since Israeli and American strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities last year. Both sides characterized the talks as constructive and agreed to continue consultations.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has maintained that Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful and has ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment. He also told RT earlier this week that trust had eroded after U.S. strikes in June 2025 occurred during negotiations. Araghchi said Iran remains prepared for military confrontation if diplomacy collapses.
Sources within Iran’s Foreign Ministry told RT that the next round of discussions is expected to take place in Vienna on Tuesday.
Last month, NBC News reported that President Trump favored any potential military action being “quick and decisive” and avoiding a prolonged engagement. According to that report, advisers expressed uncertainty about whether a strike would achieve leadership change in Iran and raised concerns about the availability of regional assets to counter a potential Iranian response.
Earlier this week, Trump described regime change in Iran as “the best thing that could happen” and said a large deployment of U.S. naval vessels had been moved closer to the region to increase pressure.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov characterized the rising tensions as “potentially explosive” and called for a peaceful resolution.
While no formal decision has been announced, officials familiar with planning discussions indicated that military options are being evaluated alongside continued diplomatic engagement.
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