The countdown for a United States strike on Iran appears to have begun, with Israel playing a pivotal role alongside Donald Trump. It is characteristic that stealth fighter jets of the F-22 type were deployed to an air base in southern Israel, as part of the massive reinforcement of the military forces of the United States in the Middle East. However, reports of unexpected problems during the fighters’ departure from England add a new, darker dimension to the operation that many consider the prelude to an attack on Iran.
The thriller
The deployment of American forces begins under the worst omens. Specifically, out of the 12 stealth F-22 fighters that took off from Lakenheath, one was forced to return urgently due to a “technical issue,” while the entire squadron had already been grounded for days because of mysterious problems involving the refueling aircraft. The question that arises is whether this is a simple coincidence or an attempt at sabotage and delay of the operation.
In any case, the fighters’ final destination is reportedly Ovda Air Base, although this has not yet been officially confirmed by the United States or Israel.
Operation Midnight Hammer
It is recalled that during the attack of Operation Midnight Hammer last June against Iranian nuclear facilities, the F-22s helped protect the stealth B-2A Spirit bombers. It is worth noting that four days prior to the operation, which took place toward the end of the Israeli war against the Islamic Republic, the F-22s carried out a similar transit across the Atlantic.
According to the Military Air Tracking Alliance, a group of approximately 30 open-source analysts that regularly examines military and government flight activity, dozens of American fighters, not only F-22s but also F-35, F-15, and F-16, were deployed to the Middle East. The group also reported that it detected dozens of accompanying refueling aircraft, as well as hundreds of cargo flights into the region since mid-February.
Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier of the United States, continues operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and has passed Crete. It is expected to rendezvous with the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been stationed in the region for an extended period.
According to Hebrew media outlets, Israeli officials believe that a United States strike on Iran is inevitable, while senior military officials from both countries are reportedly in contact. An official cited by Channel 12 on 24 February stated that a diplomatic resolution of the conflict would be the “surprise of the year.”
Trump’s stance
During his State of the Nation address on 24 February, the American president Donald Trump launched an attack against Iran on various issues. “Since they took control of this proud country 47 years ago, the regime and its proxies have done nothing but spread terror, death, and hatred,” Trump said.
Referring to the elimination of Qassem Soleimani in 2020, the president of the United States claimed it had a massive impact. Regarding the recent protests in Iran, he stated that the regime killed at least 32,000 demonstrators, describing the Iranian leaders as “terrible people.” He further asserted that the Iranians “are working to build missiles that can reach the United States of America.”
The deployment of the F-22s and Trump’s speech suggest that a strike on Iran may be only days away. Despite the fact that Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet again on 26 February in Geneva with Iranian officials, an agreement appears unlikely. Iran seems open to a deal only if its nuclear rights are secured, while refusing any discussion of its missile program or regional influence, a position that stands in direct opposition to the demands of the United States and Israel.
Iran’s nuclear program
One of the main deadlocks in the talks between the United States and Iran concerns Tehran’s nuclear enrichment. Trump is demanding that Iran halt all enrichment, while the Iranians insist on their right to continue.
On Tuesday, Iranian officials emphasized their commitment to diplomacy. In a series of social media posts, Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that “an agreement is achievable, but only if diplomacy is prioritized.” “Based on the understandings shaped during the previous round, Iran will resume talks with the United States in Geneva with determination to achieve a fair and balanced agreement, within the shortest possible timeframe,” Araghchi wrote, reiterating that while Iran “will never develop a nuclear weapon under any circumstances,” it refuses to renounce its rights to “peaceful nuclear technology.”
Channel 12 reported that Araghchi has received approval from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a draft counterproposal ahead of Thursday’s talks. The United States is reportedly viewing these negotiations as a final opportunity to leverage diplomatic momentum rather than choose military confrontation with Iran. The draft proposal has reportedly not yet been seen by the United States delegation.
Military exercises
Meanwhile, the ground forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted military exercises along the country’s southern coast. Iran has intensified its military drills in the region in recent days, and footage broadcast by the Fars news agency showed troops using drones, mortars, and missiles to attack vessels offshore and land-based targets, while amphibious vehicles performed maneuvers in the surf.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told state media on Tuesday that Iran “will do whatever is necessary” to ensure the success of the talks. However, he added: “If there is an attack or aggression against Iran, we will respond according to our defense plans. A United States strike on Iran is a real risk.”
“A United States attack on Iran is inevitable”
Israeli political and military officials appear to place little weight on the negotiations and believe that a United States strike on Iran is “inevitable,” according to Channel 12. The report stated that they are warning their American counterparts not to allow talks with Iran to drag on or result in a weak agreement.
“It would be the surprise of the year if Iran agrees to a genuine diplomatic solution,” a senior Israeli official told the network, adding that “if Iran submits to United States demands in the nuclear talks, it would contradict the spirit of this regime. But it would be no less surprising if the Americans agree to a delayed and misleading agreement.”
In recent discussions between IDF Chief Eyal Zamir and United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Caine, Zamir reportedly presented a range of military options from Israel’s perspective, warning that “any agreement with Iran would serve as an insurance policy for the Iranian regime.”
Senior Israeli officials are pushing for a powerful strike that would either deter Iran or significantly limit its ability to retaliate forcefully against the United States or Israel, Channel 12 reported.
In what may signal preparation for such a scenario, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told leadership figures of the Shin Bet intelligence service that Israel is working to establish its own regional alliance to counter Iran-led axes and networks associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The emerging alliance “includes many countries,” Netanyahu said at an intelligence leadership conference. “Some are visiting us, even these days. Some, we are visiting. I am speaking about an entire circle that spans the Middle East.”
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών