US Military Prepares for Extended Iran Operations Under Trump

The United States is once again staring down the Iranian regime but this time, the stakes appear far higher. According to U.S. officials, the U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump gives the order. That shift alone signals a dramatic escalation in America’s posture toward one of its most persistent adversaries.

Unlike the hesitant, muddled foreign policy Americans endured under the Biden administration, President Trump is making it clear that American strength is back on the table.

Officials indicate that Pentagon planners are considering a prolonged campaign, not just limited strikes. That would mark a significant departure from previous one-off actions such as the “Midnight Hammer” strike, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities with stealth bombers.

This time, the options reportedly extend beyond nuclear sites and could include:

• Iranian state and security infrastructure

• Military command centers

• Strategic missile facilities

• Revolutionary Guard assets

Iran is not a paper tiger. The regime boasts one of the largest missile arsenals in the Middle East, and U.S. officials fully expect retaliation if strikes occur. But unlike the weak posture that defined much of the last four years, the Trump administration is clearly preparing for sustained engagement rather than symbolic gestures.

For context, Iran possesses an estimated 3,000+ ballistic missiles, according to multiple defense assessments, making it one of the region’s most heavily armed missile powers. Meanwhile, the United States maintains roughly 30,000 to 40,000 troops across Middle Eastern bases all within potential range of Iranian retaliation.

President Trump has long been skeptical of endless ground wars. As he said previously, “the last thing you want to do is ground forces.” The current military buildup including additional aircraft carriers, fighter aircraft, and guided-missile destroyers signals that air and naval power would likely form the backbone of any sustained Iran operations.

Recently, the Pentagon moved another carrier strike group into the region, adding thousands of troops and significant firepower. This kind of positioning is not accidental; it’s strategic deterrence.

Trump has also been blunt about the regime in Tehran. Speaking after a military event at he openly suggested that a change in Iran’s government “would be the best thing that could happen.” For 47 years, the Iranian regime has funded terrorism, crushed internal dissent, and chanted “Death to America” while negotiating in bad faith.

Diplomacy remains an option. U.S. envoys, including are scheduled to meet Iranian representatives in Geneva with mediation from Oman. Secretary of State acknowledged that President Trump prefers a deal but also admitted that reaching one will be “very hard.”

That realism stands in sharp contrast to the naive appeasement strategies of past administrations.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned it would retaliate against U.S. bases throughout the region. America maintains military installations in:

• Jordan

• Kuwait

• Saudi Arabia

• Qatar

• Bahrain

• The United Arab Emirates

• Turkey

Any sustained Iran operations could trigger a back-and-forth escalation. Experts warn of regional instability, but instability already exists largely fueled by Tehran’s proxy networks.

Israeli Prime Minister recently met with Trump in Washington and emphasized that any agreement must protect Israel’s security interests. Israel, which has faced direct and proxy attacks from Iranian-backed forces, understands the threat better than most.

Meanwhile, Iranian opposition figure has publicly argued that U.S. action could accelerate the collapse of the clerical regime. He claims the government is weaker than it appears strained by sanctions, internal protests, and economic decline. Iran’s inflation rate has hovered near 40% in recent years, and youth unemployment has soared above 20%, creating significant domestic instability.

The difference between administrations is stark. Under President Biden, Iran expanded uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels and grew bolder in supporting regional militias. Under President Trump’s previous term, the maximum pressure campaign reduced Iran’s oil exports from roughly 2.5 million barrels per day to under 500,000 at one point severely constraining the regime’s revenue stream.

The lesson is clear deterrence works when America projects strength.

Preparing for sustained Iran operations does not mean war is inevitable. It means the United States is no longer bluffing. Tehran must now decide whether it wants meaningful concessions or a confrontation with the world’s most capable military force.

For decades, the Iranian regime has relied on American hesitation. That era appears to be ending.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.