WASHINGTON, 20 Feb. - (ANA) - The US has said there are "many reasons" that could justify a strike on Iran, as Washington continues to build up military forces in the region despite a generally optimisic tone following recent talks in Geneva.

 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that "there are many reasons and arguments one could make for a strike against Iran", adding that "Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration."

 

Her remarks form part of a month of escalating rhetoric from the US administration, which has coupled warnings of possible military action with a significant deployment of forces across the Middle East and beyond.

 

Washington has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Gulf, while the USS Gerald R. Ford was, as of Wednesday, operating off the coast of West Africa, according to CBS News, citing maritime tracking data.

 

In addition to the carrier groups, Washington has sent F-35 and F-22 stealth fighter jets, as well as F-15s and F-16s, to the region.

 

Large numbers of KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft have also been monitored crossing the Atlantic by flight tracking website Flightradar24, indicating preparations for sustained air operations.

 

Other assets positioned in the region include the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and the E-11 Battlefield Airborne Communications Node.

 

The Wall Street Journal described the deployment as the largest US military buildup in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

 

 

 

 

US media outlets have reported that potential strikes on Iran could take place as early as this weekend.

 

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday urged all Polish citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, warning that evacuations might not be possible within "dozens or several dozen hours".

 

According to CBS, military officials have briefed President Donald Trump that US forces would be ready for action by Saturday, with all deployed units expected to be in position by mid-March.

 

However, CNN reported that Trump has not yet made a final decision and is weighing his options while seeking advice on the most effective course of action.

 

The Wall Street Journal reported that possible scenarios range from targeting nuclear and ballistic missile facilities to a broader campaign aimed at senior military and political officials in an effort to destabilise the Iranian leadership.

 

Both options, according to the newspaper, would likely require operations lasting several weeks.

 

President Trump has also suggested that US bases in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in the UK could play a role in any potential attack.

 

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, he stressed the strategic importance of the UK retaining control of Diego Garcia.

 

At the diplomatic level, Trump has been briefed by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who took part in talks with Iranian officials in Geneva on Tuesday.

 

Axios news site reported that Washington expects Iran to present a package of steps by the end of the month addressing US concerns over its nuclear programme.

 

One official told the outlet that Iranian representatives had made positive comments during the discussions but cautioned that "the devil is in the details", while another dismissed the talks as "a nothing burger".

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was drafting "an initial and coherent framework to advance future talks" during discussions with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

 

Meanwhile, Iran’s energy chief Mohammad Esmail reiterated that no country could deprive Tehran of its right to enrich uranium, which remains a central sticking point in negotiations.

 

Tehran has also been making its own preparations, as satellite imagery analysed by the Institute for Science and International Security suggests that Iran has reinforced key military sites in anticipation of potential strikes.

 

In addition, Iran has issued a notice to airmen announcing planned rocket launches in the country’s south through Thursday, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration.

 

The developments coincide with a joint naval exercise between Iran and Russia in the Gulf, during which Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called for restraint and urged all parties to allow diplomacy to prevail.

 

 

 

 

Israeli officials reportedly believe the likelihood of US strikes on Iran has increased significantly.

 

According to Haaretz, Israel has placed its military on heightened alert and completed both defensive and offensive preparations in case of war, although no special instructions have been issued to civil institutions or the broader public.

 

A security cabinet meeting originally scheduled for Thursday has been postponed until Sunday, Ynet reported, in an effort to avoid triggering a preemptive Iranian response based on misinterpreted signals.

 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Israel next Saturday to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the escalating tensions, according to AFP and the Associated Press.

 

Axios reported that any US strike on Iran would likely be conducted in coordination with, and with the involvement of, the Israeli military.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/20 February 2026 - - -