The United States is poised for a "highly kinetic" campaign against Iran, according to a former senior Pentagon official. This assessment follows one of the largest recent military buildups by the U.S. in the Middle East.
Dana Stroul, research director at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stated that the U.S. military is prepared for a sustained operation and to defend regional allies from Iranian missiles. She highlighted the U.S. military's ability to rapidly reposition assets globally and deploy overwhelming force.
Stroul noted that the current U.S. posture expands offensive and defensive capabilities beyond previous operations. The deployment includes multiple U.S. aircraft carriers and accompanying vessels, significantly enhancing offensive power should conflict arise.
The U.S. has also increased the number of guided-missile destroyers, fighter aircraft, refuelers, and air defense systems in the region. The strategic importance of aircraft carriers like the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln is underscored by their positioning in the Middle East CENTCOM theater.
This military buildup occurs alongside ongoing indirect diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, with Oman mediating. Stroul believes Iran's leadership is attempting to balance assertive actions with negotiation, but emphasized that Iran is conventionally outmatched.
She further pointed to the weakening of Iran's regional proxies, such as Hezbollah and Shiite militias, after sustained Israeli military pressure. Stroul concluded that while military readiness is established, the decision for engagement remains political.