The United States is preparing for war with Iran: under what conditions can Trump decide to launch a decisive strike?
19 June 2025 13:12
Iran is threatening to strike US military targets in the event of US intervention in the conflict between Israel and Iran, The New York Times reports, citing intelligence sources.
According to them, Iran has deployed missiles and other weapons that could be used against US bases in the Middle East. The Iranian defense minister emphasized that US facilities in the region are in the target zone and can be “completely destroyed” in response to support for Israel.
At the same time, the United States has deployed at least 30 military refueling aircraft from the United States to Europe, as reported by the BBC. Among them are KC-135 aircraft, which have already been deployed to air bases in Scotland, Spain, and England. These aircraft are designed for aerial refueling of combat aircraft, including fighters and bombers.
The redeployment of the equipment comes amid the escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran, after Israel launched an operation on June 13 to destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Although it has not been officially confirmed that the movement of the aircraft is related to this conflict, experts note that such activity is “unusual.”
In addition, according to Reuters, the United States has deployed F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighters to the Middle East. Refueling tankers deployed to Europe can provide air support for these aircraft.
U.S. Vice President James DeVance also did not rule out the possibility that the United States could directly support Israel in the conflict.
Iran, for its part, has at least two underground facilities where uranium is enriched for potential nuclear weapons: Natanz and Fordow. The former has already been hit by an Israeli strike, while Fordo is located in a mountainous area near the city of Qom and is well protected.
According to Western military sources, an attack on Fordo would likely require the use of special super-powerful GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, the so-called “bunker busters” weighing more than 13 tons.
Under what conditions the United States can intervene in the conflict between Israel and Iran – more in the article of
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The US is preparing to strike Iran, and it is only a matter of time
Managing partner of the National Anti-Crisis Group and political expert Taras Zagorodnyi in an exclusive commentary for
“The chances that the United States will enter this conflict are quite high. The US military has long been looking for an opportunity to strike Iran. Everyone is well aware that the nuclear deal was more of a screen behind which Tehran’s true ambitions were hidden – the creation of nuclear weapons,”
– Zahorodnyi explains.
The expert believes that Iran’s aggressive rhetoric, support for terrorist groups, and open desire to destroy Israel have long created the preconditions for an armed conflict.
“Israel, according to the Minister of Defense, has already cleared the battlefield – destroyed air defense systems and revealed its weaknesses. Now the United States just has to go in with a strike from above, plant a flag and say: ‘We did it’. Although the real work was done by Israel,”
– the expert believes.
Zahorodnyi emphasizes that for the United States, this is not only a geopolitical operation, but also a symbolic step: to demonstrate strength, to show who is “boss”.
“Unlike Russia, Iran is not a nuclear power. Therefore, a strike against it carries fewer strategic risks. This could be a precedent and a warning to others, including the DPRK and Russia,”
– Zahorodnyi adds.
At the same time, he said, there are double standards in the US attitude to Russia. The Kremlin, despite its aggression, remains a convenient enemy that does not create economic competition but helps Washington maintain the demand for security in Europe.
“Russia is profitable. It scares Europe, and Europe runs to the United States: ‘Save us, help us’. Meanwhile, America dictates its terms,”
– he explains.
“Someone needs to have their head cut off” – the West needs a show of force
Zahorodnyi says that the United States has not demonstrated real use of force for a long time. And now there is an opportunity not just to strike, but to show everyone that whoever dares to challenge will get the boot. Both Trump and the US security system itself need this to maintain the world order built on American leadership.
The expert is convinced that the current US military buildup is not a “threat,” but preparation for real action. If the situation does not change, America will strike. And a strike on Iran will not only be a strategic signal to the whole world, but also an attempt to restore the global image of the United States as a force that does not just “condemn” but acts.
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