US bolsters military presence near Iran

Amid conciliatory statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, American media reports indicate a buildup of U.S. military forces in proximity to Iran. Additional fighter jets and missile defense vehicles will soon be deployed to the Persian Gulf.

According to U.S. media reports, the Pentagon is preparing to relocate fighter aircraft and missile defense systems to military bases in the Persian Gulf, close to Iranian territory. This involves several Air Force squadrons and a number of anti-missile batteries.

These assets may be deployed, among other locations, to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. This base came under retaliatory attack by the IRGC following U.S. airstrikes on nuclear facilities in Iran at the end of the recent 12-day Iran-Israel war.

The fighter jets and missile defense systems will reinforce the current U.S. military contingent in the Persian Gulf, which already numbers approximately 30,000 troops.

Recall that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is already en route to the region, heading to the Persian Gulf from the South China Sea. It carries four fighter squadrons, including several advanced F-35 combat aircraft.

The carrier is accompanied by a cruiser and three destroyers equipped with Tomahawk missiles. Three more destroyers, also armed with Tomahawks, are already awaiting them in the Persian Gulf.

There has been an increase in flights by US military transport aircraft in the region - over the past 24 hours, they have landed at U.S. military bases in the Middle East no fewer than 14 times.

U.S. media outlets link all this activity to Pentagon preparations for a potential order from President Donald Trump to strike targets within the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Some publications suggest that B-2 "stealth" bombers could be utilized for an attack on Iran. These strategic bombers are based in the U.S. but are capable of reaching Iranian territory within 36 hours without landing.