Washington: The United States Armed Forces is reportedly ready to launch strikes on Iran as soon as this weekend, though President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on authorising military action, according to CNN sources.
Officials say the White House has been briefed on the readiness of US forces following a substantial buildup of air and naval assets in the Middle East over the past several days. A source told CNN that Trump has privately assessed the risks and benefits of intervention and consulted senior advisers and international allies on the potential course of action.
Situation Room Briefings and Indirect Talks
Senior national security officials convened in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday to evaluate developments regarding Iran. Trump was also briefed by special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner on indirect talks held with Iran the previous day.
The indirect discussions in Geneva lasted three and a half hours but concluded without a major breakthrough. Iran’s chief negotiator said the two sides agreed on a “set of guiding principles,” while a US official acknowledged that “many details still remain to be discussed.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Iran is expected to clarify its negotiating position in the coming weeks, but she did not confirm whether military action would be paused during that time.
Diplomatic Moves Continue
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel on February 28 to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and brief him on the progress of Iran negotiations.
Massive Military Buildup in Middle East
Independent aviation and OSINT tracking platforms like ItaMilRadar and other flight‑tracking analysts report indicate a significant US military buildup in the region, including the deployment of over 50 fighter jets in a single day. The fleet reportedly includes F-22, F-35, and F-16 fighter jets, supported by multiple aerial refuelling tankers. Social media accounts tracking military aviation have confirmed these movements.
