Two American officials said that the US military is preparing for the possibility of launching continued military operations against Iran that may last for weeks, in the event of an order from US President Donald Trump, which could lead to a dangerous escalation beyond what the two countries have witnessed previously.

On Friday, Reuters quoted these two officials, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the planning, that these preparations increase the risks that threaten the ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran.

This comes in the wake of talks between American and Iranian diplomats in the Sultanate of Oman last week, with the aim of reviving the diplomatic track on the Iranian nuclear program, in light of Trump’s mobilization of additional military forces in the region, which raised fears of new military action.

In this context, American officials stated that the Pentagon is preparing to send an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East, in addition to thousands of soldiers, fighter aircraft, guided missile destroyers, and other firepower capable of carrying out and defending attacks.

Trump had stated, during a speech before American forces at a base in North Carolina, that reaching an agreement with Iran “was difficult,” adding: “Sometimes you have to feel afraid. This is the only thing that will really solve the problem.”

In response to a question about preparations for a possible long-term US military operation, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated, “President Trump is putting all options on the table regarding Iran,” noting that he is listening to multiple opinions before making his final decision in a way that serves the national security of the United States.

It is worth noting that the United States sent two aircraft carriers to the region last year, when it carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, but Operation “Midnight Hammer” in June was a one-time attack, as stealth bombers were launched from the United States to target Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran responded at the time with a limited retaliatory attack on a US base in Qatar.

The officials stressed that the current planning is more complex, with one indicating that the US military may target Iranian government and security facilities in an ongoing campaign, and not just nuclear infrastructure, without going into further details.

Experts believe that the risks to which American forces may be exposed will be greater if such an operation is carried out, given Iran’s possession of a large arsenal of missiles, in addition to that any retaliatory strikes may increase the risk of a large-scale regional conflict erupting.

The same official said that the United States fully expects an Iranian response, which could lead to an exchange of strikes and retaliations over a long period of time.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, in addition to its suppression of dissent at home, warning on Thursday that the alternative to a diplomatic solution would be “extremely painful.”

On the other hand, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard warned that any strikes on Iranian territory may be met with targeting American military bases in the region, as the United States maintains bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the Emirates, and Turkey.

In the same context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Trump in Washington, on Wednesday, considering that any potential agreement with Iran must include “elements that are important to Israel.”

For its part, Iran confirmed its willingness to discuss imposing restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions, but it ruled out linking this issue to its missile program.