In a recent interview with NBC, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that unless a new nuclear deal is reached, the country will be bombed. According to sources close to the matter, Tehran has rejected Washington’s proposal for direct talks—reportedly conveyed via a letter delivered to Iran’s Supreme Leadership in early March—and has instead expressed willingness to engage in indirect negotiations through Oman.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to reinforce its military posture across the Gulf and broader Middle East region. At present, the Diego Garcia airbase—located roughly 4,000 km from Iran—is hosting an estimated 6 to 7 B-2 SPIRIT stealth bombers (five reportedly on the tarmac and the rest in shelters), alongside 6–7 KC-135 STRATOTANKER aerial refueling aircraft, 1–3 C-17 GLOBEMASTER III strategic airlifters, and a single P-8 POSEIDON multi-intelligence maritime patrol aircraft.
Concurrently, around 10 C-17 GLOBEMASTER III aircraft have been observed shuttling from South Korea to Isa Air Base in Bahrain, possibly transporting PATRIOT air defense batteries. Reports also suggest that the 124th Fighter Wing—specifically the 190th Fighter Squadron of the Idaho Air National Guard, equipped with A-10 attack aircraft—is preparing for deployment to the CENTCOM Area of Operations.
In the Red Sea, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) Carrier Strike Group is actively conducting combat operations against Houthi targets in Yemen (as evidenced by publicly released footage). The group comprises the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS HARRY S. TRUMAN and its embarked Air Wing (CVW-1), the guided-missile cruiser USS GETTYSBURG (CG-64), and three ARLEIGH BURKE-class destroyers: USS STOUT (DDG-55), USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG-68), and USS Jason DUNHAM (DDG-109).
In the Persian Gulf, the U.S. naval presence includes the USS LEWIS B. PULLER (ESB-3) expeditionary mobile base, and four Military Sealift Command vessels: USNS ARCTIC (T-AOE-8), USNS LARAMIE (T-AO-203), USNS ALAN SHEPARD (T-AKE-3), and USNS AMELIA EARHART (T-AKE-6). The NAVCENT Task Force 52 is also in theater with four Avenger-class mine countermeasure vessels: USS SENTRY (MCM-3), USS GLADIATOR (MCM-11), USS DEVASTATOR (MCM-6), and USS DEXTROUS (MCM-13). Supporting operations is the USS GEORGIA (SSGN-729), a former OHIO-class ballistic missile submarine converted to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Further reinforcing this formidable military posture is the imminent arrival of Carrier Strike Group One, centered around the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70) and its embarked Air Wing (CVW-2). The group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS PRINCETON (CG-59) and the destroyer USS STERETT (DDG-104). The presence of USS WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE (DDG-110) remains unconfirmed. The strike group departed Guam on March 29 and, as of March 31, was operating near the Philippines—approximately ten days’ sailing distance from the Gulf.
Such a massive build-up leaves little room for misinterpretation: the United States appears to be preparing for a potential direct military strike against Iran should Tehran fail to meet the nuclear ultimatum.
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