US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with military action if ongoing negotiations fail to replace the nuclear deal he struck during his first term in office in 2018. file. | Photo credit: Reuters
The United States is building a major force of naval and air assets in West Asia, setting the stage for a sustained military campaign against Iran.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with military action if ongoing negotiations fail to replace the nuclear deal he struck during his first term in office in 2018.
In addition to ships and warplanes deployed in West Asia, the United States has tens of thousands of troops stationed at bases throughout the region, some of which are vulnerable to Iranian counterattacks.
Ships
Washington currently has 13 warships in West Asia: one aircraft carrier – the USS Abraham Lincoln – nine destroyers and three littoral combat ships, with more on the way, a US official said.
The USS Gerald R. Ford — the world’s largest aircraft carrier — is currently in the Atlantic Ocean en route from the Caribbean to West Asia, following Trump’s order earlier this month. Along with it are three destroyers.
It is rare to have two US aircraft carriers in West Asia carrying dozens of warplanes and carrying thousands of sailors.
The United States had two heavy warships in the region when it targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities during Israel’s 12-day attack campaign against Iran in June last year.
the plane
According to open-source intelligence accounts on X and the flight-tracking website, the United States has also sent a large group of aircraft to West Asia. FlightRadar24.
These include F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets, F-15 and F-16 fighter jets and the KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft needed to sustain their operations.
Wednesday (February 18, 2026) FlightRadar24 Several KC-135s were flying near or in West Asia, as well as E3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control aircraft and cargo aircraft operating in the region.
Protests, threats, negotiations
Mr. Trump ordered Lincoln to West Asia, where Iran suppressed protests initially driven by economic concerns, but which turned into a mass movement against the Islamic Republic.
The clerical leadership that took power after the 1979 Islamic revolution has responded to protests with deadly force and held on to power, with many opponents of the system seeing outside intervention as a driver of change.
If Iran kills protesters, the United States will intervene militarily, Mr. Trump has repeatedly warned and encouraged the Iranians to take over government agencies, saying “help is on the way.”
He backed away from ordering the strikes last month, saying Tehran had halted executions of more than 800 people under pressure from Washington, but has since renewed threats against Iran.
US and Iranian officials held talks in Geneva on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) aimed at avoiding US military intervention.
After the talks, Iran said it had agreed on “guiding principles” for the deal to avoid conflict, but US Vice-President JD Vance said Tehran had not yet recognized all of Washington’s red lines.
Published – February 18, 2026 10:40 pm IST
