The United States is assembling its most significant concentration of air power in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War, positioning advanced fighter jets, aircraft carriers, and support assets amid rising tensions with Iran.

Over the past several days, the Pentagon has surged cutting-edge F-35 and F-22 stealth fighters into the region, along with F-15s, F-16s, refueling aircraft, airborne command-and-control planes, and battlefield communications platforms. A second aircraft carrier strike group is en route, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and multiple guided-missile destroyers already deployed. Additional land-based air defenses have also been moved into position.

The buildup gives President Donald Trump the option of launching a sustained, weeks-long air campaign against Iran — far beyond the limited “Midnight Hammer” strike conducted in June against three Iranian nuclear sites. Military planners have reportedly presented options ranging from precision strikes on nuclear and ballistic missile facilities to broader operations targeting regime leadership and military infrastructure.

Despite the scale of the deployment — the largest regional concentration of U.S. air power in over two decades — it remains smaller than the massive force assembled for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, when more than 800 U.S. aircraft were positioned in the theater. Today’s U.S. Air Force is leaner, but far more technologically advanced, relying on stealth, precision-guided munitions, and space-based capabilities to deliver overwhelming force.

President Donald Trump is weighing an initial, limited military strike on Iran aimed at forcing Tehran to meet U.S. demands for a comprehensive nuclear agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported. The proposed opening assault would target select military or government facilities and could come within days if authorized, people familiar with the matter said.

Officials described the potential action as a calibrated pressure tactic — designed to compel Iran to end uranium enrichment and return to serious negotiations — while stopping short of a full-scale war that could provoke sweeping retaliation.

If Iran refuses to comply, U.S. officials indicated Washington could escalate to a broader campaign against regime infrastructure, potentially aimed at weakening or toppling the Tehran government.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters he would determine his next steps within “about two weeks.” Trump has not made a final decision. National security advisers continue to weigh the risks of escalation against the potential strategic gains of crippling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

While negotiations between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Geneva have shown what the White House described as “a little bit of progress,” officials acknowledge the two sides remain far apart. Trump has indicated he prefers a diplomatic resolution that would end Iran’s uranium enrichment and dismantle its nuclear ambitions.

Senior U.S. officials recently met with Iranian counterparts, pressing for an end to Tehran’s nuclear enrichment activities, tighter restrictions on its ballistic missile program, and a halt to its support for regional armed proxies. Iran has rejected sweeping concessions and continues to deny that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, deepening the impasse between the two sides.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. strike would be met with “maximum force,” threatening American naval assets in the region. Iran retains the ability to retaliate with a sizable missile arsenal and could attempt to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has issued a formal aviation warning ahead of what it described as “extensive missile launches,” closing broad sections of its southern airspace on Thursday amid mounting regional tensions. According to an official Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), pilots have been instructed to avoid designated launch zones between 5:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Israel time. Data from the Federal Aviation Administration confirms that civilian air traffic will be restricted during the scheduled activity, forcing international carriers to reroute flights through the Persian Gulf region.

The move follows weeks of Iranian military drills, including exercises near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Recent maneuvers temporarily disrupted maritime traffic, heightening concerns in Israel and Western capitals over whether the launches represent routine exercises or a signal of escalation.

The developments come as the United States announced new sanctions against 18 senior Iranian officials, accusing them of orchestrating violent crackdowns on protesters and restricting internet access during widespread demonstrations. The sanctions were implemented under the direction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In total, 58 individuals have now been targeted under the policy.

The United Kingdom will not allow the Pentagon to use British-controlled bases to launch potential military strikes against Iran, according to a report by The Times of London. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has reportedly informed Washington that U.S. forces may not conduct air missions against Iran from Diego Garcia — the joint U.S.-U.K. base in the Indian Ocean — or from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which hosts America’s B-52 bomber force in Europe.

Under longstanding defense agreements, British approval is required before such bases can be used for offensive military operations. British officials are said to be concerned that permitting their use in strikes against Iran could violate international law, particularly if London were deemed to have “knowledge” of a potentially unlawful act.

The dispute has also complicated negotiations over Britain’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius — a deal that includes Diego Garcia. President Trump publicly criticized the proposal, warning that surrendering control of the strategically vital base would weaken Western security.

The standoff underscores growing transatlantic tensions as Washington weighs its options against Iran while London seeks to balance alliance commitments with legal and diplomatic concerns. With missile warnings issued and sanctions expanding, analysts say the coming days will test whether the region moves toward de-escalation — or deeper confrontation.