"Trump Listened To Netanyahu": U.S. Military Prepares for Potential Weeks-Long Operations
A senior U.S. administration official told the Daily Mail that Trump adopted a "tougher approach" toward Iran since the leaders spoke. The official quoted Netanyahu as warning Trump not to let Iran "play games" or manipulate him, adding that "Trump listened."
The U.S. military is actively planning for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran should President Donald Trump authorize strikes, according to two senior American officials speaking to Reuters.
This preparation marks a significant escalation in contingency planning compared to last year's more limited strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, with potential targets expanding beyond nuclear sites to include regime security infrastructure and other strategic assets.
The officials emphasized that any such campaign would likely trigger Iranian retaliation, leading to prolonged back-and-forth exchanges of strikes and reprisals. "The United States fully expects Iran to respond," one official told Reuters, highlighting the risk of a drawn-out conflict far more serious than previous U.S.-Iran confrontations.
Planning is described as "more complex" than the 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer, which focused narrowly on nuclear targets.
The report comes as diplomatic efforts continue in parallel, with the next round of indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, in Geneva, led on the American side by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner. Last week's discussions in Oman were characterized as a positive but limited start, focused solely on Iran's nuclear program, with no breakthroughs on broader issues like ballistic missiles or regional proxies.
Tensions have intensified with the Pentagon's decision to deploy a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. The USS Gerald R. Ford, recently operating in the Caribbean, is en route to join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region, a move Trump confirmed Friday, stating it provides "tremendous power" and readiness "in case we don't make a deal."
The buildup follows Trump's recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after which a senior U.S. administration official told the Daily Mail that Trump adopted a "tougher approach" toward Iran. The official quoted Netanyahu as warning Trump not to let Iran "play games" or manipulate him, adding that "Trump listened."
Trump has openly entertained regime change as potentially "the best thing" for Iran and threatened "very traumatic" consequences if negotiations fail. Iran has vowed harsh retaliation to any attack, while insisting its nuclear activities remain peaceful and rejecting curbs on its missile program.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has extended warnings for airlines to avoid Iranian airspace until at least March 31 due to heightened risks from weapons systems and unpredictable responses. Regional allies hosting U.S. bases have expressed concerns over potential Iranian targeting.