The United States and Israel have agreed on how to carry out fast and strong strikes against Iran if military action becomes necessary. However, US officials say that while they can respond quickly to specific situations, preparing for a large-scale operation needs time and careful planning.
According to The Middle East Monitor, the agreement came after a high-level meeting in Tel Aviv. Commander Brad Cooper of US Central Command met with top Israeli military officials to discuss working together on Iran-related issues. Reports say both sides shared similar views and agreed to keep working closely on military matters.
US officials explained their plan for any possible attack would be a “fast, sudden and clean operation.” This means they want to avoid a long conflict. However, their bigger goal appears to be changing the current government in Tehran. Any strike would target those responsible for hurting civilians and protesters inside Iran.
The military buildup shows America means business
President Trump supported anti-government protesters this month, telling them, “Help is on its way” as the Iranian government cracked down. Although the protests have stopped and Trump recently softened some of his military talk, he remains concerned about the violence. When asked if he wanted Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to step down, Trump didn’t answer directly but said, “There is a lot of killing.”
The US is already moving large military forces toward the Gulf region. This comes after Trump’s earlier warnings to Iran about harming protesters during the crackdown. President Trump confirmed the military buildup, saying an “armada” is heading there. “We’re watching Iran. We have a big force going towards Iran,” he said, adding that he hopes they won’t need to use it.
The main part of this deployment is the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, which changed direction from the South China Sea over a week ago. The group includes destroyers carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles that can hit targets deep inside Iran. The Aegis combat system on these ships provides defense against ballistic missiles, preparing for possible Iranian retaliation.
Iran has issued serious warnings against any military action. General Mohammad Pakpour of the Revolutionary Guard told Washington and Israel “to avoid any miscalculation,” saying Iran is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger.” Reports suggest that Iran has established terror cells within American borders as a potential response.
Iran’s Foreign Minister warned that if attacked, Tehran would be “firing back with everything we have.” He said, “An all-out confrontation will certainly be ferocious and drag on far, far longer than the fantasy timelines that Israel and its proxies are trying to peddle to the White House.”
Beyond military moves, the US continues economic pressure. On Friday, the US placed sanctions on nine ships and their owners for smuggling Iranian oil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said these sanctions target how Iran makes money used to suppress its people during protests that started on December 28.
Published: Jan 26, 2026 03:29 pm