Pentagon Prepares for Potential Weeks-Long Air Campaign Against Iran as Tensions Mount
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon is actively drawing up plans for sustained, multi-week combat operations against Iran in the event President Donald Trump orders a military strike, according to an exclusive report by Reuters released Friday. The disclosure comes amid a sharp escalation in tensions following the collapse of back-channel diplomatic talks in Oman and renewed threats from Tehran regarding its nuclear program.
Deep Search: Behind the Strategic Shift
According to defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the updated war plans represent a significant shift from the limited, “one-off” strikes seen during “Operation Midnight Hammer” in June 2025. The new strategy moves beyond targeted deterrence to a comprehensive campaign designed to degrade Iran’s military infrastructure systematically.
Sources indicate the planning focuses on a “sustained air and naval campaign” capable of neutralizing Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, air defense systems, and command-and-control centers over a period of several weeks. The objective appears to be two-fold: to strip the Iranian regime of its ability to threaten regional shipping and to force Tehran back to the negotiating table on unfavorable terms.
“The President has all options on the table,” a White House spokesperson stated, declining to comment on specific operational details. “He listens to a variety of perspectives, but the ultimate decision rests on national security interests.”
Regional Pushback and Strategic Risks
Despite the advanced state of military preparations, significant objections remain both within the region and among strategic analysts. Key U.S. allies in the Gulf, specifically Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have reportedly lobbied Washington intensely against a broad offensive. Fearing they would be the first targets of Iranian retaliation, these nations have signaled they may refuse to allow their airspace or bases to be used for direct attacks on Iran—a logistical hurdle that could complicate any sustained U.S. operation.
Critics also point to the potential contradiction in President Trump’s policy. Having long campaigned against “endless wars” in the Middle East, committing to a weeks-long combat operation risks dragging the U.S. into the very type of prolonged conflict the administration has vowed to avoid. “This isn’t a surgical strike; it’s an open-ended commitment to combat,” warned one regional security analyst. “If the initial bombardment doesn’t force a surrender, the exit strategy becomes virtually non-existent.”
Background: A Timeline of Escalation
The current standoff follows a year of volatility. In June 2025, the U.S. conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in response to uranium enrichment spikes, an operation dubbed “Midnight Hammer.” While that action temporarily set back Tehran’s program, intelligence reports suggest Iran has since rebuilt key centrifuges and hardened its facilities deep underground.
Diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis stalled earlier this week when Iranian negotiators in Oman reportedly walked back previous tentative agreements on missile restrictions. In response, the U.S. has deployed an additional carrier strike group to the region—a force President Trump has characterized as an “armada”—signaling that the window for a peaceful resolution may be closing.
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