President Donald Trump who initially stated he would strike Iran over its crackdown on protests, later switched his focus to Iran’s nuclear programme. File
| Picture Credit score: AP
Requested if he desires regime change in Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump informed reporters on Friday (February 13, 2026) that it “can be the most effective factor that would occur”. Mr. Trump, who final month threatened to strike Iran if Iran killed protesters, confirmed {that a} second plane provider is “going out shortly” to West Asia. “For 47 years, they’ve been speaking and speaking and speaking,” Mr. Trump stated. “Within the meantime, we’ve misplaced lots of lives whereas they discuss. Legs blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off. We’ve been happening for a very long time. So, let’s see what occurs.”
The U.S. has already deployed USS Abraham Lincoln to the Arabian Sea, some 500 km off Iran’s Persian Gulf coast. On Friday (February 13, 2026), officers informed U.S. media that the second provider going to the area can be USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest plane provider. Ford is at present within the Caribbean the place it was deployed earlier than Mr. Trump’s January 3 assault on Venezuela and the kidnapping of its President, Nicolas Maduro. The final time West Asian waters had two plane carriers was in June 2025 when the U.S. joined Israel to bomb Iran throughout the 12-day battle.
Mr. Trump’s choice to ship a second provider to West Asia got here shut on the heels of his assembly, in Washington, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr. Netanyahu, who was scheduled to journey to the U.S. later this month, moved up his journey after the U.S. held talks with Iran in Muscat, Oman, on February 6. Whereas there was no breakthrough within the talks, either side agreed to proceed the dialogue.
Speaking factors
Mr. Trump, who initially stated he would strike Iran over its crackdown on protests, later switched his focus to Iran’s nuclear programme, which he claimed to have “obliterated” within the June strike. Lately, he has repeatedly warned that Iran would face “profound penalties” if it didn’t comply with a take care of the U.S. Tehran says it is able to speak about its nuclear programme, however solely concerning the nuclear programme. Israel, then again, has demanded that any deal between the U.S. and Iran also needs to deal with the latter’s ballistic missile functionality and its assist for militia teams within the area reminiscent of Hamas, Houthis and Hezbollah.
Whereas diplomats are set to proceed talks, the U.S. is constructing a warlike navy presence within the area. Apart from the Lincoln strike group with its air wing together with F/A-18E Tremendous Hornets, F-35C Lightning Iis and EA-18G Growlers, the Pentagon has additionally despatched guided missile destroyers and fight ships to the Persian Gulf, Purple Sea, Strait of Hormuz and Mediterranean. It has additionally moved some 35 F-15E Strike Eagles to the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, tanker plane to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in addition to A-10 and MQ-9 drones and digital warfare plane. The U.S. has additionally deployed further THAAD and Patriot techniques to guard its bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
The U.S. has some 50,000 troops throughout at the least 19 bases within the area. The variety of troops is predicted to go up by one other 5,000 as soon as Ford reaches West Asia’s waters.
Iran’s response
Iran has stated that it’s prepared for “truthful and equitable” talks, however wouldn’t settle for coercion. President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated Iran will not be searching for to construct a nuclear bomb and that it is able to open the nation up for verification. However whereas maintaining the door open for a diplomatic resolution, Iran says its fingers stay “on the set off”. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has carried out a stay drill within the Persian Gulf in latest weeks. On February 11, the forty seventh anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian authorities additionally mobilised big crowds throughout the nation to counter the Western narrative that it lacks public assist. Iran’s prime safety officers say even a restricted U.S. strike might set off an all-out regional battle.
The U.S. is ramping up navy strain on Iran to extract most concessions as a part of a possible deal. Iran has pushed again in opposition to sweeping calls for from the U.S. and Israel, warning that any assault can be pricey. Whereas Mr. Trump, who seems cautious of getting drawn into extended conflicts, might favor swift result-oriented navy motion if diplomacy fails, Iran’s doctrine will not be constructed round fast victory however round denying victory to its adversary. The state of affairs stays tense and sophisticated. Mr. Trump desires a deal on his phrases and has threatened to make use of power if he doesn’t get it. Iran, which was bombed in June 2025 whereas nonetheless engaged in talks with the U.S., seeks a deal that respects its pink traces, and has warned that any new assault might set off a wider battle. Israel is watching intently to see how occasions unfold subsequent.
Printed – February 14, 2026 05:43 pm IST