Trump Briefed on Potential Strikes Against Iran with 13 Ships in the Region

SadaNews - Two American officials informed "Axios" that President Donald Trump held a meeting with his senior advisors to discuss the crisis with Iran.

Sources told "Axios" that the U.S. President was briefed on the details of the nuclear talks that took place two days ago in Geneva, in addition to discussing the next steps regarding Iran.

Other American officials indicated that Trump received a briefing on several military options should he decide to strike Iran.

Meanwhile, an American official urged the Iranians to return to the Trump administration by the end of the month with a package of steps addressing Washington's concerns raised in the Geneva talks, while another American official described the talks with Iran in Geneva as "fruitless."

The White House confirmed the existence of numerous arguments justifying a strike against Iran, but considered it wise for Iran to reach an agreement with the U.S. administration.

White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated that "progress on the agreement is limited."

In contrast, Tehran is currently preparing a draft framework for anticipated talks with the United States, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Araghchi explained during a phone call with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, that Iran is focused on preparing this draft to advance future discussions within a cohesive framework.

An American official reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Israel next week amid rising tensions with Iran. The American official told "AFP" that Rubio will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit, without providing further details.

However, despite these diplomatic developments, military preparations continue as Iran plans to conduct missile launches in southern regions of the country today, following a notification sent to air navigation, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Iran is also planning to conduct a maritime joint exercise with Russia in the Oman Sea and the northern Indian Ocean, preceded by military drills from the Revolutionary Guard in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" reported estimates suggesting that Iran is pressuring Lebanese Hezbollah to participate in any upcoming confrontation.

The newspaper clarified that there is a possibility of involvement from the Houthis and other Iranian proxies, especially if Washington participates in the attack.

In a related context, "Reuters" revealed satellite images showing that Iran has recently constructed a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and has concealed it underground.

The images also indicate that Iran has buried the entrances to tunnels at a nuclear site bombed by the U.S. during last year's 12-day war between Israel and Iran, fortified tunnel entrances near another site, and repaired missile bases that were hit during the conflict.

As for Israel, it has raised its military alert level amid increasing indications of the likelihood of war breaking out with Iran, according to two Israeli officials who spoke to "CNN."

The Israeli officials suggested in statements to the American network that an attack on Iran could occur within days and in a coordinated U.S.-Israeli fashion.

The United States is amassing its largest air power buildup in the region since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, according to "The Wall Street Journal."

Flight tracking data and an American official revealed that these aircraft include F-35, F-22, and F-16 fighter jets, among others. Additionally, E-3 airborne warning and control system aircraft, and E-11 airborne communications center aircraft. A second aircraft carrier loaded with strike and electronic warfare aircraft is also heading to the region.

The U.S. Navy currently has 13 ships in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean to support any operation, including the aircraft carriers Abraham Lincoln and Gerald Ford heading to the region, along with nine destroyers capable of defending against ballistic missiles, according to a Navy official.

There are also weapons that do not necessarily need to be present in the Middle East, such as B-2 stealth bombers, which can execute missions in the Middle East directly from the United States, as they did against Iran last June, or from the U.S.-British joint base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

American officials stated that this firepower would provide the United States the option to conduct a sustained air war for weeks against Iran, rather than a limited strike. Meanwhile, America asserts that the current presence is to "protect interests."