The U.S. military buildup in the Middle East continues unabated, even after signs of rhetorical backtracking by U.S. President Donald Trump on the possibility of a direct attack on Iran. In recent hours, Washington has intensified its air presence in the region, while Tehran maintains maximum alert status and reiterates warnings of possible retaliation in case of aggression, reports the Folha de São Paulo.
At least 12 F-15E fighter jets arrived in Jordan between Sunday (18) and Monday (19). The aircraft, considered central to frontal attack operations, departed from the British base at Lakenheath and landed at Muwaffaq Air Base, one of the main U.S. military installations in the Middle East.
The deployment was not isolated. Along with the fighters, the United States sent at least four KC-135 tanker aircraft, essential for long-range missions, as well as three strategic C-17 cargo planes. The F-15E jets can carry up to 10.4 tons of armaments and are part of a contingent estimated at around 35 units already positioned in the region, not counting fleets operated by allies such as Israel and Saudi Arabia.
On the Iranian side, the tone remains firm. The government reiterated that any targeted action, including a potential attack on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, will be interpreted as an act of war. According to Tehran, such an offensive would result in direct retaliation against the United States.
The military intensification comes despite Donald Trump recently stating that he had been informed Iran was “stopping the killing,” referring to the crackdown by the Islamic regime on protests that began in late 2025. Official Iranian data indicate around 5,000 deaths, while human rights organizations abroad estimate higher numbers.
Last week, Trump even signaled he might act if the deaths continued, raising expectations of military action. On Wednesday (14), however, the U.S. president publicly downplayed that possibility. Even so, the repositioning of forces indicates Washington is keeping all options open.
One key factor is naval presence. Until now, the United States had not maintained carrier strike groups near the Middle East, which limits firepower and protection for regional bases. Following Trump’s statements, two such groups began moving to strategic areas. The USS Abraham Lincoln advanced from the South China Sea, crossing the Strait of Malacca, with an expected arrival in the region by Sunday (25). The group led by the USS George H. W. Bush, currently in the North Atlantic, may head to the Mediterranean and position near the Israeli coast, according to unconfirmed reports.
Pressure from allies also weighs in the U.S. calculus. Gulf Arab countries, historic rivals of Tehran, express concern over the impact of a conflict on oil and gas flows. Israel, meanwhile, reportedly requested a delay in any military action. Israeli analysts point out that the request is linked to low stocks of high-altitude interception missiles for the Arrow system, essential for neutralizing ballistic missiles.
Those missiles were decisive in intercepting around 800 Iranian projectiles during the 2025 war and the spot attacks of 2024, the first direct confrontations between Iran and Israel. Even with an estimated destruction of half of Iran’s launch capacity, experts assess that the remaining arsenal could still cause significant damage.
While the political decision remains undecided, military movements continue. Reinforcements are also being sent to Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean, considered strategic for long-range strikes beyond Iranian retaliation range. Over the last weekend, at least six C-17 cargo planes landed at the base. In 2025, stealth B-2 bombers had already been deployed to the island prior to strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The current scenario indicates that, regardless of an immediate decision, U.S. forces continue positioning as if a confrontation were a real possibility, keeping tensions high in one of the planet’s most sensitive regions.
Source: brasil247.com