The United States continue to escalate a military build up in the Middle East by deploying a significant naval and air strike force, as CNN and CBS report that Donald Trump is preparing the way for a wide scale attack against Iran over the next few days.
According to the latest US media military sources, armed forces deployed in the region are now ready to start launching naval and air assaults against Iranian targets this weekend, should Trump give the green light.
Following air raids against Iran last June, the US President has intermmittently warned the Islamic Republic with further military punishment and over the past few weeks has made further and more direct threats should the on-going talks on Iran's nuclear programme in Geneva fail to reach an agreement.
'The presence of such a strike force in the area is a dynamic in itself and its sometimes not easy to say, that's all, we do nothing else', said Susan Jande, an analyst with the Centre of Strategic and International Studies in the US.
As Tehran was expected to submit a written proposal during the second round of talks later today, Washington continues to send additional warships and fighter jets in the region, also deploying tens of thousands of ground troops in bases across the Middle East. Some of these troop concentrations could prove vulnerable should Iran decide to retaliate.
Iran issued a NOTAM on scheduled missile launches in the south of the country today, as the FAA reported. The country held naval exercises on Monday in the Hormuz Straits and is currently holding joint manoeuvres with Russia in the sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean.
US Vice President JD Vance did note yesterday that Washington will continue talking to Tehran but shall also be looking into other options.
SOURCE: CNA