US Military Amasses Strike Capabilities Near Iran—What to Know

President Donald Trump began ordering additional U.S. forces to the Middle East in January after telling Iranian protesters ‘help is on its way.’

The U.S. Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln leads its strike group during a photo exercise in the Arabian Sea, on Feb. 6, 2026. US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Monford/Handout via Reuters

Over the past month, the U.S. military has amassed dozens of strike capabilities in the Middle East as President Donald Trump demands that the Iranian regime submit to new security constraints.

As negotiations have played out, the Trump administration has repeatedly invoked the June 2025 U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and warned that military action remains on the table if Tehran doesn’t make sufficient concessions.