Iran is threatening to strike U.S. military personnel operating in the Middle East, warning that American troops could be considered legitimate targets as tensions escalate over Tehran’s nuclear program.
The warning comes as President Donald Trump has imposed a narrow diplomatic window for Iran to agree to strict nuclear terms and has made clear that the deadline is backed by force.
“I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror … to have a nuclear weapon,” President Trump told lawmakers during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.
A 10–15 Day Clock
Trump first outlined the compressed timeline on February 19, saying the world would know within “probably 10 days” whether Tehran was prepared to strike what he called a meaningful deal.
“I would think that would be enough time — 10, 15 days, pretty much maximum,” Trump said at the time, adding that absent an agreement, “it’s going to be unfortunate for them.”
During his address to Congress, the president reiterated that negotiations are underway, but said Iran has not met his core condition.
“We are in negotiations with them,” Trump said.
“They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon.’”
He also referenced the 2025 U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, describing it as having “obliterated Iran’s nuclear weapons program.”
According to President Trump, Tehran was warned after that operation “to make no future attempts to rebuild its weapons program,” yet he said Iran is now “starting it all over again.”
Massive U.S. Military Buildup
The president’s ultimatum is unfolding against the backdrop of the largest concentration of U.S. naval power in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
The USS Gerald R. Ford arrived at Souda Bay, Crete, on Monday, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been conducting continuous flight operations in the Arabian Sea since late January.
Between the two carrier strike groups, the United States now has 14 major warships in the region, including nine Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
In addition, 12 F-22 Raptor stealth fighters have deployed to Ovda Airbase in southern Israel.
National security analyst Joe Funderburke noted in the Small Wars Journal:
“The F-22 is not a simple show-of-force aircraft. It is designed to suppress enemy air defenses and protect penetrating strike platforms like the B-2 Spirit bomber, the same combination used to devastate Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz nine months ago.”
Operation Midnight Hammer utilized B-2 bombers carrying 30,000-pound bunker-buster munitions.
While that strike was described as surgical and limited in scope, the current military posture suggests a broader set of options is on the table.
Iran Signals Retaliation
Following the 2025 strike, Iran’s response was measured.
This time, Iranian officials are vowing a more aggressive reaction and warning that U.S. forces in the region are “fair game.”
President Trump has not publicly detailed what actions would follow if Iran refuses his terms.
However, in mid-February, he warned that if no meaningful agreement materializes, “bad things will happen.”
Administration officials have indicated that any deal would require Iran to halt all uranium enrichment and provide verifiable guarantees that its nuclear program cannot be reconstituted, demands Tehran has repeatedly resisted.
Protest Death Claims
During his State of the Union, President Trump also highlighted unrest inside Iran, asserting that authorities had killed approximately 32,000 protesters in recent demonstrations.
“Just over the last couple of months with the protests, they’ve killed at least, it looks like, 32,000 protesters — 32,000 protesters in their own country,” Trump said.
“They shot them and hung them.”
That figure exceeds independent estimates and Iran’s official numbers.
Geneva Talks Continue
Despite the mounting military pressure, U.S. negotiators are scheduled to meet Iranian envoys again in Geneva on Thursday.
Both Washington and Tehran appear to believe the other is bluffing.
President Trump has framed the current timeline as a final diplomatic opportunity backed by overwhelming force.
Iranian leaders have publicly dismissed U.S. threats and warned that any strike would trigger retaliation against American forces and regional allies.
With the president’s deadline already in motion and substantial American firepower positioned in the region, the coming days are likely to determine whether negotiations yield concessions or whether the standoff escalates into direct confrontation.
READ MORE – U.S Military Planning for Iran Includes Regime Change, Officials Reveal
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.