| United States military buildup in the Middle East | |
|---|---|
| Part of the2025 Iran internal crisis andMiddle Eastern crisis (2023–present) | |
| Location | |
| Planned by |  United States |
| Commanded by | Brad Cooper |
| Objective |
|
| Date | January 26, 2026 (2026-01-26) – present (2 weeks and 4 days) |
| Executed by | |
Starting in late January 2026, theUnited States increased its military presence across theMiddle East in response to rising tensions withIran. On 26 January 2026, theUSS Abraham Lincolncarrier strike group deployed to the region, accompanied by additional air, naval, and missile defense forces. U.S. officials characterized the buildup as intended to deter regional instability connected to both the2025–2026 Iranian protests and the2026 killings of demonstrators and to signal readiness for contingency operations.[1] Iranian officials described the buildup as provocative, while neighboring governments warned it could escalate into wider conflict.
The US has maintained a strong military presence in the Middle East for decades to protect strategic interests, shipping lanes, and regional stability.[2][3]
Its pressure on Iran began in 2015 as it implied theMaximum Pressure campaign that intensified economic and diplomatic sanctions against Iran. This came after the US withdrew from the2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2018 and later reinstated under PresidentDonald Trump in February 2025. Its main goal was to coerceTehran into negotiating a more restrictive agreement covering not just its nuclear program but also its ballistic missiles and regional activities by cutting Iran’s oil exports and isolating it economically. The strategy still relies on broad sanctions targeting oil revenues, financial institutions, and trade partners to drive Iran into severe financial distress and force concessions.[4][5][6]
As tensions escalated in late 2025 asnationwide protests in Iran led tothousands of deaths. In response, US President Donald Trump expressed support for the protesters, telling them to "keep protesting" and that "help is on its way",[7] and reinforced the US military presence in the region to deter attacks on American personnel and signal readiness for contingency operations.[8]
Concerns over potential military escalation mounted, with Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei warning that any confrontation could spark a wider regional war.[9] In mid-January 2026, analysts estimate conflict could begin within weeks, and some European leaders including German ChancellorFriedrich Merz suggest Iran's leadership is in its "final days and weeks".[10] Chief of the General Staff of theIsrael Defense Forces,Eyal Zamir, estimated war would begin from either 2 weeks or within 2 months.[11] Adding to tensions,Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last Shah, publicly called for targeted military strikes against the Iranian regime, signaling that opposition figures were advocating for external intervention to hasten political change.[12]
TheUSS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-poweredaircraft carrier, was deployed to the Middle East on 26 January 2026 with its strike group, including guided-missile destroyers, cruisers, support vessels, and surveillance aircraft, comprisingUSS Frank E. Petersen Jr.,USS Michael Murphy,USS Spruance (DDG-111),F/A-18E Super Hornet,EA-18G Growler,E-2 Hawkeye,MH-60S Sea Hawk,MH-60R Sea Hawk andF-35C Lightning II.[13] Additional U.S. ships in the region includeUSS McFaul andUSS Mitscher (DDG-57) in theStrait of Hormuz,USS Delbert D. Black in theRed Sea,USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) andUSS Bulkeley in theMediterranean, and littoral combat shipsUSS Canberra (LCS-30),USS Tulsa (LCS-16), andUSS Santa Barbara (LCS-32) in thePersian Gulf. Air support includesF‑15E fighter jets relocated fromRAF Lakenheath toMuwaffaq Salti Air Base inJordan.[14][15][16] The UKEurofighter Typhoons were deployed toal-Udeid Air Base inQatar.[17]
The Wall Street Journal reported on 11 February 2026 that Donald Trump indicated preliminary preparations for deploying a second carrier fleet to the region, theUSS George H. W. Bush, which is currently completing drills off the coast of Virginia.[18] In addition, it was reported that six F-35A stealth fighter planes that were stuck atRota Air Base inSpain moved toMoron Air Base, while, six more F-35s arrived at Lakenheath Air Base in the U.K. Trump was also reported to weighing sending another aircraft carrier to the Middle-East.[19][20]
On 3 February 2026, sixIRGC Navy gunboats attempted to stop and seize a US tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The Stena Imperative tanker ignored their demands and continued toward theArabian Sea under the escort of the USSMcFaul (DDG 74).[21][22] Moreover, a US F-35 fighter jet shot down an IranianShahed 139 drone approaching the aircraft carrierUSS Abraham Lincoln.[23][24]
On 5 February, Iran's IRGC Navy announced it had seized two foreign oil tankers nearFarsi Island in the Persian Gulf and transferred them to the port ofBushehr, claiming both vessels were involved in fuel smuggling operations.[25]
Iran's presidentMasoud Pezeshkian publicly signaled a willingness to negotiate directly with the United States, instructing his foreign minister,Abbas Araghchi, to pursue "fair and equitable" talks with the United States, framing diplomacy as acceptable if conducted free of threats and unrealistic expectations.[26] Iranian leadership authorizedAli Larijani to conduct negotiations with the US.[27]Ali Shamkhani stated Iran would limituranium enrichment to 20%.[28] Iran warned of military retaliation against U.S. forces and regional allies, and labeled European militaries as "terrorists",[29] after theEuropean Union designated theIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.[30] The GermanBundeswehr later warned of increased Iranian related espionage and cyber attacks.[31]
TheU.S. Central Command warned Iran against unsafe naval activity in the Strait of Hormuz,[32] and subsequently an Iranian official stated that the Revolutionary Guards had no plans to conduct live-fire exercises,[33] while joint drills with Russia and China were reported as planned later in February, Iran eventually pulled out of them.[34][35] Iran received RussianMiG-29 jets andMi-28NE gunships,[36] while state media reported preparing graves at Tehran'sBehesht-e Zahra for potential American casualties.[37]
In addition, Chief of Staff of theIranian Armed Forces,Abdolrahim Mousavi, warned Iran was fully prepared to give vengeful blows against the U.S. military and its allies, and that Iran has shifted its military doctrine and revised it toward an “offensive”.[38][39] Maj. Gen.Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cautioned that the IRGC had its "finger on the trigger" and warned the United States and Israel against miscalculation.[40] IRGC Central Khatam Al Anbia Command warned if America attacked Iran, they would wreak havoc to the countries in the region that supported Americans.[41] Minister of Foreign relations Abbas Araghchi said that President Trump was "getting dragged into war by certain elements and parties".[42]
Iranian leadership feared that the combination of a potential US military strike and renewed public protests could threaten the survival of the Islamic Republic.[43][44] TheSupreme National Security Council made major changes to the chain of command, citing the goal of strengthening war deterrence.[45] The Islamic Republic posted an article saying it is time for merging Army and Revolutionary Guard Corp, while Supreme Leaders aligned newspapersKeyhan and IRGC-alignedJavan argued they can't merge due to different mission supposedly it was one of Americans' demands.[46][47][48]
On 5 February, Iran deployed itsKhorramshahr‑4 long-range missile in an underground missile facility, signaling a shift in military doctrine from defensive to offensive.[49] Satellite imagery reported byThe New York Times showed Iran accelerating repairs at missile sites while making limited repairs at its nuclear facilities, indicating a focus on missile infrastructure.[50] The Chinese YLC-8B UHF-Band 3D long-range anti-stealth surveillance radar was reportedly deployed to Iran.[51][52][53][54] Satellite images showed Iranian regime had buried tunnel underground entrance ofIsfahan nuclear site.[55]
U.S. officials maintained that diplomatic engagement with Iran remained possible even as military pressure increased. White House Press SecretaryKaroline Leavitt said that talks with Iranian officials were still scheduled despite rising tensions, emphasizing that the administration remained focused on diplomacy but would keep other options available if necessary. She stated that diplomacy "takes two to tango" and that President Trump preferred to pursue negotiation first, while also acknowledging that a range of military options remained on the table.[56][57]
U.S. Secretary of StateMarco Rubio stated that the United States was prepared to engage in talks with Iran but stressed that any meaningful negotiations would need to address Iran's ballistic missile program, its support for regional militant groups, and other core security concerns. Rubio also expressed skepticism about the likelihood of reaching a successful deal, even as Washington signaled readiness to pursue diplomacy.[58]
Retired U.S. Army GeneralJack Keane, serving as a senior strategic analyst onFox News, praised the administration's "maximum pressure" approach toward Iran, arguing it was an effective way to change Iranian behavior and exert leverage, though he suggested large‑scale military action remained unlikely in the short term.[59]
The United States also used economic tools to increase pressure on Tehran, imposing fresh sanctions in late January 2026 targeting Iranian political and economic figures, including Interior MinisterEskandar Momeni and businessmanBabak Zanjani, in response to the government's crackdown on protests and to encourage compliance with international norms.[60] U.S. Treasury SecretaryScott Bessent said that senior Iranian leaders were moving tens of millions of dollars out of the country, describing the financial outflows as evidence that the regime was "abandoning ship" amid ongoing protests and economic collapse, and that the Treasury was tracking these transfers into banks and financial institutions abroad.[61]
In parallel, the U.S. Virtual Embassy in Iran issued security alerts in January and February 2026, urging American citizens to leave the country amid unrest and travel disruptions, and recommending departure via land through open borders to neighbouring countries.[62][63]
Neighboring states expressed concern over escalation.Saudi Arabia called for a peaceful, diplomatic resolution.[64] TheUnited Arab Emirates stated it will not allow military operations from its territory or airspace.[65]Turkey opposed American military action and offered to mediate negotiations.[66]Qatar engaged in regional diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and prevent wider conflict.[67]Iraq warned that further escalation would threaten regional stability and called for restraint and respect for its sovereignty.[68]Pakistan urged all parties to exercise restraint and emphasized the need for dialogue to avoid a wider regional conflict.[69]
Meanwhile,Russia urged a diplomatic solution and offered to store and process Iran's enriched uranium.[70][71]China condemned US threats and called for a diplomatic resolution.[72] TheShanghai Cooperation Organisation warned the US against interfering in Iran’s governance.[73] French Foreign MinisterJean-Noël Barrot urged Tehran to accept negotiations and make concessions to avert war.[74]Israel supported U.S. pressure on Iran but remained wary of Tehran's intentions, with Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu urging skepticism about Iran during renewed nuclear talks and emphasizing that Iran should not be trusted to uphold agreements.[75]
Al‑Qaeda leaderSaif al-Adel wrote to the Supreme Leader of Afghanistan,Hibatullah Akhundzada, requesting that the organization's members be allowed to relocate to the country in the event of the Islamic Republic's collapse.[76]
Secretary-General ofHezbollah,Naim Qassem, described Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as the representative of theImam Mahdi and said that Hezbollah and tens of millions of his followers share a deep ideological and religious bond with Khamenei's leadership, viewing threats against him as threats against their own community and obligations to respond.[77] At the same time, Yemen'sHouthi movement threatened to resume attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.[78] On 11 February, Houthis were reportedly deploying missiles platforms and digging tunnels raising for possible attack on Red Sea shipping lanes.[79]
The US demanded that Iran hand over its remainder of 400 kg enriched uranium, halt itsnuclear weapons development, limit itsballistic missile program, and end support for armed groups such asHezbollah,Hamas, and theHouthis.[80]
In the days leading up to the talks, Iran intensified regional diplomacy. Ali Larijani visitedMoscow to meetVladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held consultations inIstanbul, and Qatar's Prime Minister SheikhMohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani visited Tehran. Larijani subsequently indicated that a structured negotiating framework was beginning to take shape.[81]
Concurrently, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar worked to arrange a meeting between U.S. Special EnvoySteve Witkoff and senior Iranian officials headed by Foreign Minister Araqchi, withAnkara initially proposed as the host city.[82] The United States and Iran agreed in principle to hold talks, though the precise location had not yet been finalized.[83] Iran, however, requested that the talks be held inOman, citing its role as a neutral venue.[84] At least nine regional countries urged the United States not to withdraw from the Oman talks.[85] Subsequently, theWhite House confirmed that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President's Senior AdvisorJared Kushner would represent the United States in the talks with Iran.[86]
On 6 February, the United States and Iran held indirect talks inMuscat, Oman, mediated by Oman's foreign ministerBadr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The discussions focused on Iran's nuclear program and were described by Iranian officials as a “good start,” with both sides agreeing to continue diplomatic engagement despite deep mistrust and disagreements over the agenda.[87]
On 8 February, it was reported that Iranians inside Iran pleaded with Trump not to negotiate with the Islamic Republic after themassacres in the country.[88] Likewise, an Iranian man fromBushehr, Pouria Hamidi, posted a video appealing to Trump and Western governments to refrain from any deals with the Islamic Republic, beforetaking his own life.[89][90] Among Iranians inside Iran as well as across theIranian diaspora, calls grew for American military strikes on Iran.[91]
Following reports of an Iranian drone being shot down on 3 February,gold prices surged above $5,000.[92]Oil prices also rose ahead of Friday, 6 February trading.[93] Saudi Arabia's index dropped 0.6% , Dubai, UAE stocks dropped %1 and 0.3% of Abu Dhabi.[94] The Qatari index lost 0.5%.[95] India reduced Iranian oil purchasing.[96]
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