The United States has significantly increased its military presence in Europe and the Middle East, moving more than 150 aircraft to the region after the second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran ended without a breakthrough on February 17.
The data is based on public flight tracking systems and satellite imagery. The information is summarized by the "Washington Post".
The current deployment of American forces is among the largest in more than two decades - since the period before the Iraq war in 2003. The reinforcement comes after President Donald Trump warned that he could attack Iran if an agreement is not reached to limit its nuclear program. Tehran says a deal is possible but will take time.
The aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford" was spotted off the Greek island of Crete and is the second American aircraft carrier sent to the Middle East. The other is "Abraham Lincoln", positioned off Oman. With the arrival of "Ford" About a third of the active U.S. warships are already in the region. Experts say the forces are sufficient for a multi-day air campaign without a ground invasion. Analysts say additional resources would be needed if the administration were planning a weeks-long operation. More than half of the new aircraft are based in Europe, including Eastern Europe, which is out of range of most Iranian missiles. The aircraft transferred include transport and refueling aircraft, as well as F-35, F-22 and F-16 fighter jets. Satellite imagery shows more than 60 warplanes at Muwafaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, including more than a dozen F-35s. E-3G Sentry long-range radar surveillance aircraft have also been deployed, providing early warning and airspace control.
Experts point out that such a concentration of forces allows Washington to quickly implement various scenarios - from limited pinpoint strikes to a larger-scale high-intensity air operation.
The US Department of Defense confirmed the increased deployment of forces, but declined to comment on specific details for operational security reasons.
The deployment comes at a time of heightened tension over Iran's nuclear program and heightened rhetoric between Washington and Tehran.
Iran is ready to take all necessary steps to reach an agreement with the United States, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said before the new round of talks between the two countries, Reuters reports.
The talks are scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. The US side is expected to include special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who will meet with an Iranian delegation.
"We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible. We will do everything necessary to make this happen. We are entering the Geneva negotiating room with full honesty and good will", Takht-Ravanchi was quoted as saying by state media.
A senior Iranian official said Tehran was ready to seriously consider a combination of measures - sending half of its highly enriched uranium abroad, diluting the remaining amount and participating in the creation of a regional enrichment consortium.
In return, Iran expects the US to recognize its right to "peaceful nuclear enrichment" within the framework of a future agreement, as well as to lift economic sanctions.
Tehran has warned that it will respond in the event of an attack. "If there is an attack or aggression against Iran, we will respond according to our defense plans. An American attack on Iran is a real gamble," Takht-Ravanchi added.
For her part, White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt said that President Donald Trump prefers a diplomatic solution but is ready to use "lethal force" if necessary.
The talks are being renewed against the backdrop of a strengthened American military presence in the Middle East. Last year, indirect talks between the two countries failed to lead to a breakthrough, mainly because of Washington's insistence that Iran abandon uranium enrichment on its territory - a demand that Tehran rejects.
The United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June last year, severely limiting enrichment. However, Iran is believed to still have stocks of already enriched uranium - a key issue in the current negotiations.