Even because the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to carry talks in Oman on Friday in hopes of defusing tensions between the 2 nations, Washington, Jerusalem and Tehran are all getting ready for what could possibly be a really violent future battle. With the talks broadly seen as a last-ditch diplomatic effort to keep away from one other battle, the buildup of U.S. navy capabilities within the area is constant.
“Whereas these negotiations are happening, I’d remind the Iranian regime that the president has many choices at his disposal because the commander in chief of probably the most highly effective navy in historical past,” White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters on the White Home Thursday afternoon.
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“Whereas these negotiations are happening, I’d remind the Iranian regime that the president has many choices at his disposal because the commander in chief of probably the most highly effective navy in historical past,” @PressSec Karoline Leavitt says at White Home. pic.twitter.com/bM7WpPq96U
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 5, 2026
Her feedback adopted these made Thursday morning by President Donald Trump, who continued his verbal stress marketing campaign in opposition to Iran.
“They’re negotiating,” Trump stated throughout the 74th Nationwide Prayer Breakfast. “They don’t need us to hit them. You understand, we’ve got an enormous fleet going over there.”
“U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, at present in Abu Dhabi, are anticipated to journey to Qatar to seek the advice of with Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani forward of the talks in Oman,” in response to the Jerusalem Publish. For the time being, the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to speak about Tehran’s nuclear packages. Beneath the proposed framework for an settlement, Iran would decide to zero enrichment of uranium for 3 years, Al Jazeera reported.
“After that, it could conform to restrict enrichment of uranium to under 1.5 %,” the publication defined. “Its present inventory of extremely enriched uranium – together with about 440kg (970lb) that has been enriched to 60 % – can be transferred to a 3rd nation. The proposed framework goes past Iran’s nuclear program with mediators proposing that Iran ought to agree to not switch weapons and applied sciences to its regional, non-state allies.”
BREAKING: Al Jazeera claims to have obtained the US-Iran deal framework proposed by Turkey, Qatar and Egypt:
1. Iran agrees to decide to zero uranium enrichment for 3 years, after which agrees to beneath 1.5% enrichment after that
2. Its stockpile of Extremely Enriched Uranium can be…
— Faytuks Community (@FaytuksNetwork) February 5, 2026
A large hole, nonetheless, stays concerning the final consequence of those talks. Whereas Iran desires to restrict them to only its nuclear program, the Trump administration has a extra complete vary of points that must be addressed.
“On the finish of the day, america is ready to have interaction, and has all the time been ready to have interaction with Iran,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Wednesday. “For talks to really result in one thing significant, they should embrace sure issues, and that features the vary of their ballistic missiles. That features their sponsorship of terrorist organizations throughout the area. That features the nuclear program. And that features the remedy of their very own folks.”
SECRETARY RUBIO on IRAN TALKS:
They should embrace sure issues, and that features the vary of their ballistic missiles, their sponsorship of terrorist organizations throughout the area, the nuclear program, the remedy of their very own folks.pic.twitter.com/i9i97giQSe
— Dylan Johnson (@ASDylanJohnson) February 4, 2026
Trump’s preliminary threats in opposition to Iran got here as data trickled out concerning the nation’s brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests which have seen upwards of 30,000 killed, in response to some estimates. The unrest started in Iran on Dec. 28 over rising costs and a devalued forex that noticed the rial crater now to principally nothing, in addition to a devastating drought.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated his nation is working laborious to forestall U.S.-Iran tensions from tipping the Center East into a brand new battle.
“Chatting with reporters on a return flight from a go to to Egypt, Erdogan added that talks on the stage of the U.S. and Iranian management can be useful after lower-level nuclear negotiations due in Oman on Friday,” Reuters reported, citing a transcript of Erdogan’s feedback shared by his workplace on Thursday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Thursday that Ankara was doing its utmost to forestall tensions between america and Iran from dragging the area into a brand new battle.
Chatting with reporters on a return flight from Egypt, Erdogan stated diplomacy remained… pic.twitter.com/A63xLbI6QJ
— Iran Worldwide English (@IranIntl_En) February 5, 2026
No matter diplomacy, the pinnacle of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday threatened Israel, America and the nations internet hosting U.S. navy bases.
“When People threaten to assault us, they need to know our first goal can be the Zionist entity,” stated IRGC Common Hossein Daghighi, utilizing the time period Iran refers to when discussing Israel. “It’s properly throughout the vary of our missiles. It’s America’s weak spot within the area.”
“The enemy’s return to negotiations – the People’ return to negotiations – is an indication that they concern the capabilities of the Iranian folks,” Daghighi added. “If attacked, we are going to instantly goal all U.S. bases within the area. The nations and governments of the area are our brothers. We’ve got no issues with them, however we are going to goal the U.S. bases in these nations. If America desires to go to battle with us, it ought to evacuate all its bases within the area and depart the area altogether. That is our goal. Our primary aim is to drive America out of all of the nations within the area.”
IRGC Common Hossein Daghighi:
Our primary aim is to drive America out of the area; if the U.S. assaults Iran, we are going to strike Israel first and goal all American bases. Washington returned to negotiations out of concern of the Iranian folks’s capabilities. pic.twitter.com/nsog54sw7X
— Open Supply Intel (@Osint613) February 5, 2026
Iran’s Military spokesman stated the U.S. bases within the area are straightforward targets to assault.
“We’re able to defend, and it’s the American president who should select between compromise or battle,” stated Amir Akraminia. “Our entry to US bases is straightforward, and this subject has elevated their vulnerability.”
US navy bases are inside Iran’s attain, the military spokesman stated on Thursday, warning President Donald Trump to decide on between compromise and battle.
“Our entry to US bases is straightforward, and this has elevated their vulnerability,” Amir Akraminia stated. “We’re able to defend… pic.twitter.com/vDBoDV8W5O
— Iran Worldwide English (@IranIntl_En) February 5, 2026
Maybe in anticipation of a brand new assault on its nuclear amenities, satellite tv for pc pictures present Iran burying the doorway to the Isfahan web site, which was considered one of three attacked throughout final yr’s Operation Midnight Hammer. Iran did one thing comparable prior that operation when it lined entrances to the Fordow facility with dust to forestall an Israeli commando raid.
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Iran is burying the entrances to its nuclear amenities as soon as once more.
Satellite tv for pc imagery analyzed by @TheGoodISIS exhibits dust is being positioned on the entrance to the Esfahan nuclear web site that was hit throughout operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER in June of final yr. https://t.co/JlmbrgZsQY
— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) February 5, 2026
Israel, which has vowed that Iran won’t ever get nuclear weapons, stays a big wildcard within the present state of affairs.
Whereas Jerusalem has been urging Trump to assault Iran, has been informed it has to “chorus from any unilateral navy motion” in opposition to its archenemy, Sky Information Arabia said. “Forward of the talks, that are to be held on Friday in Oman, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth described the coordination between Israel and america as ‘very shut.’ Senior Israeli officers pointed to the frequent visits by navy and intelligence officers between the 2 nations.”
“The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was holding a gathering with the heads of the safety companies on Thursday to debate the tensions with Iran,” Sky Information Arabia added.
It ought to be famous, in fact, that Israel attacked Iran final June in what turned often known as the 12-Day Conflict whilst Washington was negotiating with Tehran.
Israeli officers stated that the US has requested Israel to chorus from any unilateral navy motion in opposition to Iran, coinciding with the scheduled negotiations between Washington and Tehran. https://t.co/ZQMK6octb4
— Levent Kemal (@leventkemaI) February 5, 2026
Along with worrying about Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, Israel is anxious about its means to provide ballistic missiles, of which Iran already has 1000’s.
“With assist from China…and different nations, IDF Chief of Employees Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zami has warned that it might improve its ballistic missile manufacturing to 300 per 30 days, and inside a number of years, dwarf its prior ballistic missile totals,” the Jerusalem Publish reported. “At 6,000, 8,000, and 10,000 missiles in 2027-2028, analysts fear that even Israel’s superior multi-layer protection protect would discover it laborious to maintain up.”
Amid all of the rhetoric, Israel is bracing for battle.
“The Air Drive, and particularly you, should proceed to keep up a excessive stage of alertness,” Israeli Air Drive commander, Common Tomer Bar, stated throughout a go to to an Iron Dome air protection battery on Thursday. “On daily basis, we’re strengthening our readiness and our defensive and offensive capabilities. The reserve forces current at this battery, within the air protection system, and in all items of the Air Drive and the Israel Protection Forces, are the central aspect of our energy and of the State of Israel. Your mission and the heavy duty you’ve gotten carried for the reason that starting of the battle and on all fronts, along with the households who help you, are really inspiring. The professionalism, dedication, and motivation you exhibit right here give me full confidence that the Air Drive is able to confronting any problem that lies forward of us.”
“As we perceive the state of affairs, we’re on a skinny line between preparedness and assault,” an Israeli safety official stated. “A dramatic weekend awaits the area.”
Visiting a reserve Iron Dome battery in northern Israel, Israeli Air Drive chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar says the navy continues to “strengthen preparedness and capabilities in each protection and offense,” amid the continuing tensions with Iran.
“The air power, and also you specifically,… pic.twitter.com/NYHeFkwLP0
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) February 5, 2026
The stream of U.S. Air Drive cargo jets to the area, nonetheless, is constant at a brisk tempo. On-line flight trackers estimate that properly over 100 plane have arrived within the Center East over the previous few weeks, bringing further forces, together with further Patriot and Terminal Excessive Altitude Space Protection (THAAD) techniques for elevated safety from any Iranian assault.
Whereas which will seem to be a lot of flights, do not forget that final yr, when the U.S. wished to bolster its forces within the Center East forward of a possible battle with Iran, it took 73 C-17 masses to maneuver one Patriot air protection battalion throughout the globe. That is only one instance of how hard-pressed U.S. navy transport logistics are in a time of a serious battle that might require huge actions — within the air and at sea — of materiel.
2/5 AM Air Protection Transfer Replace
Flights carrying air defenses have continued to stream into the Center East in a single day with extra leaving Texas for Europe.
I’ve logged 50 flights since 1/23 whole with 10 nonetheless in progress and no last vacation spot is thought but. For context, final… pic.twitter.com/WlvFep7TEC
— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) February 5, 2026
As a part of the trouble to deal with all these plane actions, the U.S. base at Spangdahlem, Germany, is now working across the clock, the BBC famous. As well as, it seems one other E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) jet is now within the area.
“A 3rd US Air Drive E-11A plane departed from Chania Worldwide Airport on the Greek island of Crete yesterday. It touched down about 4 hours later at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.”
Individually Spangdahlem Air Base, a big Nato facility in Germany operated…
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) February 5, 2026
The U.S. has already deployed further F-15E Strike Eagles, E/A-18G Growler digital warfare jets and A-10 Thunderbolt shut help plane to the area, the place some F-15Es and A-10s had been already positioned. The U.S. Navy additionally has squadrons of F-35C stealth fighters, F/A-18E-F Tremendous Hornets and Growlers embarked aboard the Lincoln. Nevertheless, as we’ve got regularly identified, there nonetheless doesn’t seem like sufficient tactical jets for the U.S. to keep up a sustained operation, even of restricted scope, in opposition to Iran.
A flight of Air Drive F-35A stealth fighters, used within the raid to seize Maduro, remains to be caught in Rota, Spain, in response to on-line flight trackers. The jets, reportedly certain for Jordan, turned marooned there after a KC-46 mishap at Moron Air Base, some 50 miles to the northeast, shut the runway for days. Whereas the Moron runway has since been reopened, it stays unclear what number of flights have been launched. We’ve got reached out to the U.S. Air Drive Air Mobility Command and U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Drive Africa (USAFE) for particulars.
This KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tanker had a mishap on Moron Air Base and stays there. (Pepe Jimenez) Pepe Jimenez
We’ve got not seen any main motion of strategic bombers but both and there doesn’t seem like any main improve of property on Diego Garcia, a U.S. base within the Indian Ocean. Final yr, forward of rising tensions with Iran, the U.S. despatched a big power of bombers and different supporting property to Diego Garcia, which TWZ was first to report on.
Although Trump on Thursday talked about that the U.S. has a “huge fleet” heading to the Center East, there have been no ship actions immediately, a U.S. Navy official informed us. There are nonetheless 10 ships within the U.S. Central Command area, together with the plane service USS Abraham Lincoln and three of its Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer escorts. There are additionally two Arleigh Burke class ships within the japanese Mediterranean as properly, the official added.
In a veiled message to Iran, CENTCOM launched a time-lapse video displaying the launch and restoration of jets from the Lincoln.
On the flight deck of an plane service, what seems to be like a random rush of jets and folks is definitely a well-orchestrated routine. Sailors aboard the united statesAbraham Lincoln are educated to work as a group to launch and get better safely and on time, each time. pic.twitter.com/64ubKaG1wC
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 5, 2026
Iran is not any match for American navy forces, the Navy’s highest-ranking active-duty officer stated this week.
“Adm. Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, informed lots of of sailors at an all-hands name Wednesday that though he doesn’t take Iranian posturing calmly, U.S. forces overmatched Tehran’s threats ‘considerably’ on the subject of capabilities,” Stars and Stripes reported. “We’ve got an excellent strategy of offering the president of america navy choices. Iran is aware of this. So, the truth that we’ve got that kind of functionality is a robust deterrent.”
Adm. Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, informed lots of of sailors at an all-hands name that though he doesn’t take Iranian posturing calmly, U.S. forces overmatched Tehran’s threats “considerably” on the subject of capabilities.https://t.co/onC0T1tj5L
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) February 5, 2026
As CENTCOM was displaying off the Lincoln, the IRGC on Thursday claimed it seized two oil tankers with their international crews in Gulf waters for “smuggling gasoline,” the official Iranian Tasnim information company reported.
“Multiple million liters of smuggled gasoline had been found on these two violating vessels, and 15 international crew members had been referred to judicial authorities for authorized proceedings,” Tasnim added. It was not instantly clear what flags the tankers had been carrying, nor the nationalities of the crews.
BREAKING:
Iranian IRGC terrorists declare they’ve captured two oil tankers within the Persian Gulf carrying round 1 million liters of diesel gasoline.
Fifteen international crew members had been detained. pic.twitter.com/LbUcrTlkVQ
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 5, 2026
The seizures, a part of an ongoing Iranian effort within the Gulf, got here simply two days after an F-35C from the Lincoln shot down an Iranian drone. In a separate incident that day, IRGC forces harassed a U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed service provider vessel lawfully transiting the Strait of Hormuz. “Two IRGC boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached M/V Stena Crucial at excessive speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker,” Col. Tim Hawkins, the CENTCOM spokesperson, stated in a press release to TWZ. “Guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) was working within the space and instantly responded to the scene to escort M/V Stena Crucial with defensive air help from the U.S. Air Drive.”
We’ll maintain you updated with new developments on this fast paced story.
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