US prepares for potential military operations against Iran amid diplomatic talks

US military officials report that the Pentagon is preparing for the possibility of sustained, multi-week operations against Iran should President Donald Trump order an attack. To bolster this position, the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is being redeployed from the Caribbean to the Middle East to join the USS Abraham Lincoln already stationed there. President Trump stated during a visit to Fort Bragg that while a deal is preferred, instilling fear in Tehran may be necessary to resolve the standoff peacefully. This military buildup coincides with scheduled diplomatic negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday, involving US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner along with Omani mediators. Trump also suggested that regime change in Iran would be a positive outcome, citing nearly five decades of failed dialogue. Tensions remain high following previous US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June and recent military operations in Venezuela.