US is bolstering air defenses in the Middle East in case they strike Iran

President Trump’s promised “armada” has arrived in the Middle East, headed by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group, and sophisticated F-35 jets have moved closer to the region.

Trump has yet to say whether and how he might use force. But American airstrikes on Iran aren’t imminent, US officials say, because the Pentagon is moving in additional air defense systems.

Specifically, the Pentagon is moving THAAD and Patriot air defenses to bases with US personnel across the Middle East. US air defenses, in addition to those operated by Israel, were crucial to protecting the country during the 12-day war with Iran in 2025, and two previous missile and drone attacks launched by the Islamic Republic in 2024.

Last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked US President Donald Trump to delay potential plans for an American strike on Iran, the New York Times reported, citing a senior US official.

The White House later confirmed that the two leaders had spoken by phone, but did not give details of the conversation. The US buildup in the Middle East mirrors the buildup they had in the Caribbean before capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, which has raised the expectations of many that US military forces will conduct a military operation on Iran as well.

This may be the case, but because Iran’s regime is much more fortified than Maduro’s, and is in a much more difficult location for the US to conduct a military operation, the nature of the US’ actions must and will be different.

There is still a chance that a military operation does not happen and a deal is reached, but in the probable event that a military operation does occur, it may happen in the next couple day, but it seems more likely that there will be a wait before it does.

As we know, all possibilities are still on the table.