Diego Garcia Buildup: Is America Preparing to Attack Iran?

Time is ticking on a major war in Middle East. The chess pieces are being put in place. The U.S. military has deployed operational B-2 Spirit long-range nuclear stealth bombers at Diego Garcia, signalling potential strikes against Iran.

Historically cautious, America's approach to Iran seems to be changing under President Trump, especially after its failure to force Islamic Republic into submission. Tehran's refusal to abandon its nuclear advancements and recent direct and indirect attacks on Israel following Gaza war have fuelled new American adventurism.

The strategic deployment at the U.S. base in the Indian Ocean archipelago of Diego Garcia, indicates preparations for significant military action. Nearly every significant U.S. military engagement in the Middle East dating back to Operation Desert Storm in 1991 began with bomber sorties launched from Diego Garcia.

These moves by the Trump administration also come on the heels of numerous statements, some intentional, some leaked by senior Trump officials--including the president himself. 

Responding to media reports of impending US strikes, a top Iran official said on Friday that if the United States follows through with military threats against Iran, U.S. allies and American military bases in the region will become targets.

"If they threaten Islamic Iran, then, like powder kegs, America's allies in the region and U.S. bases will be made unsafe," said parliament speaker Baqar Qalibaf.He added that negotiating under pressure and threats would equate to surrendering to the other party's demands, "which would be a prelude to war, which no nation would accept."

Tensions between US and Iran reached a boiling point this month after Trump sent a formal letter to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Khamenei, delivering a clear and decisive ultimatum: Iran has two months to accept a new nuclear deal or face severe consequences. This unprecedented move by the Trump administration signals a potential turning point in US-Iran relations.

According to officials familiar with the letter, Trump warned that if the Iranian government does not agree to the terms by the deadline, the US would take decisive measures and this could include, coordinating military strikes with Israel, or even launching unilateral military action.

However Supreme Leader has roundly rejected the Trump ultimatum saying the US was not seeking negotiations with Iran but rather imposing demands on it. 

"Some bully governments insist on negotiations," he said. "But their negotiations are not aimed at solving issues, but to dominate and impose their own expectations. For them, negotiation is a means to introduce new demands. The issue is not just about nuclear matters, they raise new expectations that Iran will certainly not accept," Ayatollah Khamenei added.

With military action on the table and Iran's options shrinking, the coming months will be critical. Trump has made it clear that he will not tolerate delays, and Iran now faces a dilemma with no easy way out.

However, attacking Iran is complex, requiring extensive bombing missions to disable Iranian defenses first.

Key indicators of imminent action would include relocating U.S. aircraft carriers away from vulnerable positions in the Persian Gulf, signaling readiness for sustained operations.

"Make no mistake: this is probably not about destroying an annoying terrorist group. What we are witnessing, be it the historic number of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers being deployed to the region or the B-2 buildup in Diego Garcia, is more than just rolling back the Houthi threat. Instead, Washington is likely readying to strike deep--and hard--against Iranian targets. This might be happening in conjunction with an Israeli Air Forcestrike on targets in Iran, such as the Fordow uranium enrichment facility", wrote Brandon J. Weicher Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest.