The US military buildup near Iran has hit a critical point this week. Ships, planes, and troops poured into the Middle East starting late January. President Donald Trump wants this to push Iran into nuclear talks. He also laid out plans to rebuild Gaza at the first Board of Peace meeting.
Key Takeaways
- US deployed two aircraft carriers, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald Ford, plus over 100 aircraft to the region since late January.
- Tensions stem from Iran's nuclear program and recent protests where thousands died.
- Trump gave Iran two weeks for a deal or faces possible strikes as soon as this weekend.
- In a separate move, Trump proposed Gaza reconstruction with US-led security and economic aid.
Background
Tensions between the US and Iran boiled over late last year. Protests swept Iran in 2025. Security forces killed thousands of demonstrators. President Trump backed the protesters publicly. He said they should keep going. Help was coming, he told them.
And he acted. Late January saw the first big moves. On January 26, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group sailed into the Middle East. It brought destroyers like USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. and USS Michael Murphy. Cruisers, support ships, and spy planes came too. Fighters such as F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning IIs flew alongside.
But that was just the start. By early February, talk turned to a second carrier. The USS George H.W. Bush finished drills off Virginia. Sources said it might head east soon. Then on February 13, the USS Gerald Ford got orders. It's the newest carrier. Officers talked of weeks-long operations if needed. This air power matches levels not seen since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
F-35 stealth jets shifted bases too. Six moved from Spain to Moron Air Base. Six more landed at Lakenheath in the UK. Tankers and submarines joined the mix. Over 100 aircraft now sit ready. Satellite photos show the scale. Pentagon stays quiet. They let the hardware do the talking.
Iran didn't sit still. Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi said they're ready to hit back hard. The Revolutionary Guard shifted to offense. Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour warned their finger's on the trigger. On February 16, Guard boats drilled in the Strait of Hormuz. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected Trump's nuclear terms. He said the US can't topple them.
Trump's team set a deadline. Iran has two weeks for a full proposal on nukes and missiles. No deal? Strikes could come fast. Sources say the military's primed for this weekend. Trump weighs it all. Trump Weighs Iran Strike as Military Builds Up Near Deadline. European markets watch close too, as markets react to US-Iran strains.
Key Details
Military Deployments
The buildup grew fast. USS Abraham Lincoln led off. Its group packs punch. Guided missiles. Anti-sub tech. Helicopters for search and rescue. The Gerald Ford adds more. It might park off Israel first, reports say. Air wings include Growlers for jamming. Hawkeyes for eyes in the sky.
Ground support ramps up. Bases in the region host F-35As. Fuel flows. Ammo stocks rise. Submarines lurk unseen. All this backs sanctions. Oil sales hurt. Banks squeezed. Trade partners warned. Goal: force Iran to talk.
Trump spoke to reporters yesterday. He dodged strike details. But clear message. Deal or bad things happen.
"We're either going to make a deal or we're going to get a deal one way or the other."
— President Donald Trump
Iran calls it provocation. Neighbors fear wider war. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran's leaders near end. Analysts see conflict weeks away.
Trump's Gaza Plans
Shift to Gaza. Trump held the first Board of Peace meeting. New group. Aims for lasting calm. He unveiled big ideas there. US leads rebuild. Security first. Then economy. Homes. Jobs. Water plants. Ports. All under American watch at start.
Details sparse so far. But Trump wants Gaza thriving. Tied to peace with Israel. Board includes experts. Allies. First meeting yesterday. Plans build on past talks. Protests in Iran factor in. Stable Middle East helps all, he said.
Board met in Washington. Key players from region attended. Trump pushed hard. Gaza as model. Safe. Prosperous. Linked to broader peace push.
Key Details on Gaza Initiative
Trump's board novel. Never before. Gathers nations. Focus: Gaza post-war. He proposes $50 billion over five years. US funds 40%. Gulf states rest. Security by US-Israel team. No arms in. Monitors everywhere.
Economy key. Tech parks. Farms. Tourism. Desalination for water. Gaza strip transforms. 2 million people benefit. Ties to West Bank plans too. Israel reopens land registry there.
Risks clear. Hamas remnants. Funding fights. But Trump bets big. Military muscle backs diplomacy.
What This Means
US power projection clear. Iran feels heat. Nuclear sites at risk. Missile factories too. Strikes could last weeks. Oil prices jump already. Strait of Hormuz key. 20% world oil passes. Drills there signal block fears.
Protests inside Iran grow. Regime weak. Buildup aids them maybe. Or sparks fight. Trump wants deal. Sanctions plus ships. Iran tests limits. Rejects terms. Clock ticks.
Gaza plan ambitious. Could change region. But needs buy-in. Israel agrees. Arabs wary. US cash draws them. Board of Peace tests new path. Military near Iran gives use.
Troops on edge. Weeks-long ops mean grind. Allies watch. Europe urges calm. Markets volatile. European gains amid tensions. Iran vows revenge. US ready either way.
Global eyes turn here. Nuclear deadline looms. Gaza hope rises. Trump's moves shape year ahead. Forces mass. Words sharpen. Weekend nears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the US sending carriers to the Middle East?
To deter Iran amid nuclear talks and protests. Trump wants a deal on nukes and missiles. Military ready if no agreement.
What are Trump’s plans for Gaza?
Rebuild with US-led security. $50 billion over five years. Focus on homes, jobs, water. Board of Peace oversees.
Could strikes on Iran happen soon?
Sources say military ready this weekend. Trump has final say. Iran deadline ends soon.
