![\"\"](\"https:\/\/natharatmouchrika.net\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/d915e51fc967d63bb9951cc59bfed916-169x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
American military forces are building in the Middle East daily, arriving on a threat from U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday that \u201ctime is running out\u201d for Iran to do a deal, or face military action from a \u201cmassive armada.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s leadership, still smarting from Israeli and U.S. strikes last June, is trying to find its feet after a crackdown on nationwide anti-regime protests this month left thousands dead. It\u2019s responding to Mr. Trump\u2019s threats with combative rhetoric of its own that aims to project strength and deter U.S. action by signaling the high cost of Iranian retaliation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our armed forces that decide the endgame of any war,\u201d Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard spokesman, 2nd Brig. Gen. Ali Mohammad Naini, told state-run TV Wednesday. \u201cIntimidation through war imagery and the deployment of an aircraft carrier is an old tactic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Echoing other Iranian officials and commanders, General Naini claimed the White House was \u201cin a state of confusion\u201d after the \u201crapid and decisive failure of the American-led sedition [protests]\u201d in Iran.<\/p>\n
The official bravado, analysts say, is designed to avoid conflict, to counter the perception in Washington of Iranian vulnerability, restore deterrence, and ensure the Islamic Republic survives what it realizes is the most existential challenge to its 47-year rule.<\/p>\n
General Naini portrayed the 12-day war last June, during which Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, and at an American base in Qatar, as proof that the \u201cmilitary option against Iran has failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in full control of the situation on the ground,\u201d he said, \u201cand have action plans for all their scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet the menu of American options is broad, honed by decades of strategic brinksmanship with Iran. It ranges from the assassination or capture of leaders, and targeting urban Revolutionary Guard bases responsible for the recent crackdown, to striking remaining nuclear and missile facilities and even wholesale attempt at regime change.<\/p>\n
Reuters cited two U.S. sources Thursday saying Mr. Trump wanted to create conditions for \u201cregime change,\u201d but had not yet decided on a military path.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s surprise attack last June, after nearly two years of war with Hamas and other Iranian allies, killed several of Iran\u2019s key commanders and struck its nuclear and military infrastructure. The United States joined the battle, and analysts assess the American bunker-buster bombs severely damaged Iran\u2019s nuclear program.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrump\u2019s presidency comes at this time when [Iran\u2019s leaders] are so vulnerable, and he is a wild card,\u201d says Afshon Ostovar, an Iran specialist and associate professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as the Iranians probably think, \u2018The Americans won\u2019t go for regime change. The most they\u2019re going to do is hit us from the air. We can survive,\u2019 they don\u2019t know. Venezuela throws all that out,\u201d says Dr. Ostovar, referring to the surprise Jan. 3 seizure of President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro in Caracas by U.S. Special Forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat gives the U.S. a lot more leverage in negotiations, but also makes it much more difficult for the Iranians to plan for this variety of possibilities,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Blows to Iran\u2019s regional prowess the past two years include the weakening of \u201cAxis of Resistance\u201d allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen, and the collapse of the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. Israeli and American strikes last June further degraded Iran\u2019s capabilities. And the recent protests \u2013 put down with unprecedented bloodshed \u2013 added more uncertainty.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey realize very acutely that they are in an existential crisis. Everything is going wrong for them, and the regime is in the biggest danger it has ever been,\u201d says Dr. Ostovar. \u201cIt\u2019s very clear that the ruling clique … cannot agree on a different path. There is no obvious consensus of, \u2018Where do we go from here?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group arrived in Middle East waters this week. American jet fighter squadrons and air and missile defenses have also reportedly been forward deployed around Iran in recent weeks. Electronic surveillance aircraft are now flying nonstop.<\/p>\n