Tracking the rapid US military build-up near Iran

"The United States administration is intensifying its build-up of a vast array of military assets in the Middle East, as President Donald Trump says Iran has 10 to 15 days at most to agree a deal over its nuclear programme and stock of ballistic missiles. As well as the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, which is reportedly joining the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Arabian Sea, key force multipliers such as E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft have been deployed."

"In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Iran said that while the country does not seek tension or war and will not initiate a war, any US aggression will be responded to decisively and proportionately. The United States would bear full and direct responsibility for any unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences, it said."

"According to open-source intelligence analysts and military flight-tracking data, the US appears to have deployed more than 120 aircraft to the region within the past few days the largest surge in US airpower in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq war. The reported deployments include E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, F-35 stealth strike fighters and F-22 air superiority jets, alongside F-15s and F-16s. Flight-tracking data shows many departing bases in the US and Europe, supported by cargo aircraft and aerial refuelling tankers, a sign of sustained operational planning rather than routine rotations."

The United States has intensified a build-up of military assets in the Middle East as President Donald Trump set a 10–15 day timeframe for Iran to agree a deal on its nuclear programme and ballistic missiles. The USS Gerald R Ford is reportedly joining the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Arabian Sea, and force multipliers such as E-3 AWACS have been moved into the region. Open-source analysts report more than 120 aircraft deployed in days, the largest airpower surge since 2003, including F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, F-16s, tankers, and cargo support. Iran warned the UN it will respond decisively and proportionately to any US aggression and said the US would bear responsibility for unpredictable consequences. A dispute also arose over use of the Diego Garcia base.

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