Exclusive-US military prepares for possible week-long Iran operation

By Phil Stewart and Idris Ali

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) – The U.S. military is preparing for a possible weeks-long operation against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two U.S. officials told Reuters, in what could be a more serious conflict between the countries than previously seen.

The revelations, made by officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the plan, raised the stakes for ongoing diplomacy between the United States and Iran.

US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman last week in an attempt to revive diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear program, after Trump built up military forces in the region, raising fears of new military action.

US officials said Friday that the Pentagon is sending more aircraft carriers to the Middle East, adding thousands more troops, including fighter jets, guided-missile destroyers and other firepower capable of attacking and defending against them.

Trump, speaking to US troops at a base in North Carolina on Friday, said it was “difficult to make a deal” with Iran.

“Sometimes you have to be afraid. It’s the only thing that really takes the situation into account,” Trump said.

Asked for comment on preparations for a potentially sustained US military operation, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: “President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran.”

“He listens to different points of view on any issue, but makes the final decision based on what’s best for our country and national security,” Kelly said.

The Pentagon declined to comment.

The United States sent two aircraft carriers to the region last year during strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

However, June’s “Midnight Hammer” operation was essentially a US attack, in which stealth bombers flew from the United States to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran launched a very limited retaliatory attack on a US base in Qatar.

The risk is increasing

The plan this time is more complicated, officials said.

In a sustained campaign, US forces could strike Iranian state and security facilities, not just nuclear infrastructure, an official said. The official declined to give specifics.

Experts say the stakes for the US military in such an action against Iran, which boasts a powerful arsenal of missiles, would be high. Retaliatory Iranian strikes also raise the risk of regional conflict.

The same official said the United States expects Iran to retaliate, with back-to-back attacks and retaliation over a period of time.

The White House and Pentagon did not respond to questions about the risk of retaliation or regional conflict.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and to crush internal dissent. On Thursday, he warned that the alternative to a diplomatic solution would be “very painful, very painful”.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that they can retaliate against any American military base if they attack Iranian soil.

The US maintains bases in the Middle East, including Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump in Washington on Wednesday for talks and said any deal with Iran would have to include essential elements for Israel.

Iran has said it is open to discussing curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions, but has refused to link the issue to missiles.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idris Ali; Editing by Don Durfee and Rosalba O’Brien)