American sources revealed extensive military movements ordered by President Donald Trump towards the Middle East and the vicinity of Iran, which included the deployment of aircraft carriers, warships, fighter jets, air defense systems, and amphibious groups, in a buildup that sources said exceeds the scale of the U.S. military presence during last June's war.
Sources close to officials at the CIA reported that Washington has prepared bases and sites in the Middle East and north and east of the Mediterranean to host stealth bombers and bunker-busting bombs, coinciding with preparations for the possibility of military strikes against Iranian targets.
According to the sources, Trump informed his advisors that returning to negotiations with Tehran would only come after military strikes, aimed at strengthening Washington's negotiating position and imposing its terms, while officials at the White House indicated that backing down from carrying out operations after mobilizing these capabilities could impact the credibility of American deterrence.
In contrast, an official familiar with the indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran revealed that Qatari mediators presented a new draft agreement to Iran, with expectations that Tehran would respond by the end of the week.
The draft reportedly includes a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, place Iran's enriched uranium under international monitoring, and allow the return of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to nuclear facilities, in exchange for Iranian demands to ease sanctions and lift the American blockade.
For his part, former Deputy National Security Advisor Mark Feith stated that the military movements provide the Trump administration with additional options in negotiations and do not necessarily mean a commitment to carry out a military operation, noting that the Qatari proposal aims to exert pressure on Tehran to prompt concessions.
In a related context, researcher on Iranian affairs Khaled Al-Haj noted that the Qatari initiative could face the same fate as previous initiatives, considering that the ongoing dispute over the nuclear file and the refusal to make substantial concessions diminishes the chances of reaching an understanding between the two sides.
These developments come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, with diplomatic paths intertwining with military preparations, at a time when the chances of reaching a new agreement remain linked to both sides' positions on the nuclear file, sanctions, and the Strait of Hormuz.