US boosts military pressure near Iran ahead of nuclear talks in Geneva

As the U.S. and Iran hold high-stakes talks in Geneva, the U.S. has ramped up air and naval firepower in the Middle East. U.S. Air Force assets based in the United Kingdom are being repositioned closer to the Middle East, according to a CNN report.

The move is not only meant intimidate, but to give the U.S. options to strike inside Iran should negotiations over its nuclear program be unsuccessful.

U.S. Officials told CNN the buildup includes repositioning tankers and fighter jets, shifting additional air defense systems into place, and extending some deployments that were set to rotate home. Flight tracking data and open-source air traffic communications show a spike in cargo flights and fighter jet movements.

Satellite imagery appears to indicate a dozen U.S. F-15s positioned at a Jordan air base, as well.

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has been deployed to the Middle East to join existing U.S. assets, President Donald Trump announced on Friday.

According to Reuters, the U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of weeks of operations against Iran if Trump orders an attack.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning on Tuesday, saying U.S. attempts to overthrow his government would fail, according to Iranian media reports.

Iranian military drills

Tehran has also announced new military drills in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported that Iran had fired live missiles toward the strait and closed it for several hours over “safety and maritime concerns.”

It marks the first time Iran has closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz, which is an essential international waterway, since the U.S. began threatening military action. While Iran held a live fire drill in the Strait of Hormuz a few weeks ago, it did not make any closures.

Gulf Arab states are urging restraint, cautioning that any strike could widen the conflict.

This story is featured in today’s Unbiased Updates. Watch the full episode here.

Not the first round of nuclear talks

Tuesday’s meeting in Geneva kicks off the second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding its nuclear program. They will be indirect and mediated by Oman, with U.S. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner involved. Trump said he will partake “indirectly” and believes Iran wants a deal.

Tehran and Washington were set to hold talks last June, but then Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran. U.S. B-2 bombers joined in on the ally’s attack, striking nuclear targets. Since then, Iran says it has halted uranium enrichment activity.

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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief

Ella Greene

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