After nuclear talks between the US and Iran ended last week without an agreement, the United States intensified the deployment of military resources to the region of the Islamic republic. Satellite images show more than 150 aircraft positioned in Europe and the Middle East.
The US Armed Forces quickly increased its presence near Iran, transferring more than 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East, after the second round of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran ended without progress, on February 17.
According to flight tracking data and satellite images analyzed by the North American newspaper, the presence of US military forces in the region is among the largest in more than 20 yearssince the period before the Iraq war, in 2003.
The reinforcement comes after President Trump has threatened to attack Iran if an agreement is not reached that restricts Iran’s nuclear program, although it did not indicate what the objectives of such an attack would be.
Iranian authorities said that an agreement is possiblebut its implementation will take time.
Experts cited by the Post who analyzed the mobilization of the US armed forces stated that this has already surpassed military reinforcement observed before , in June last year.
According to these analysts, the means that are being gathered point to a multi-day campaign, no ground invasion.
Dozens of additional fighter jets are aboard the super-aircraft carrier, which was spotted Monday off the Greek island of Crete.
The Ford is the second aircraft carrier sent to the Middle Eastand its arrival means that around 1/3 of all US ships active are now in the region.
ZAP // Washington Post reporting; MapChart
Air bases with US aircraft parked, February 23, 2026
“O massive level of concentrated force means that the US military can carry out any Trump decision — from a prolonged and high-intensity campaign to more targeted and limited attacks,” he said Dana Stroulformer deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and currently director of research at think tank Washington Institute.
If management is planning a prolonged air campaignlasting several weeks, even more military resources will be needed, he said Mark Canciansenior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cited by The Post.
According to satellite images and flight tracking data, more than half of recently deployed US aircraft landed at bases in Europe, in the Azores, which could be used for an attack on Iran by the Portuguese government.
When positioning the planes out of range of most Iranian missilesin Eastern Europe, instead of placing them in bases in the Gulf, the US is able to strategically position material or personnel without offering the Iranians a “desirable target”, these Gregory Brewsenior analyst for Iran at Eurasia Group.
A Muwaffaq Salti Air BaseJordan, has been a key destination for US air assets entering the region. More than 60 warplanes were visible in satellite images captured on Friday. In these images, more than a dozen F-35 fighter jets appear lined up on the board.
ZAP // The Washington / Planet Labs
Satellite image of Muwaffaq Salti air base in Jordan on February 20
These devices are often used to attack air defenses from the opponent, opening a safer corridor for other planes. The advanced stealth fighter also has electronic warfare capabilitiesdiss Brew.
Dozens of warplanes have been photographed in recent days on runways in Europe. Photographs posted online show a dozen F-22A Raptor positioned at the air base of Lakenheathin the United Kingdom, and at least one 4th generation supersonic fighter F-16 Fighting Falcon landing in the Azores.
A video filmed from the window of a passenger plane circling the runway at Chania Airport in Crete and posted on TikTok on Saturday shows at least another dozen F-35samong other combat aircraft.
Refueling tankers and at least one reconnaissance aircraft have arrived at the airport since Feb. 17, flight tracking data and satellite images show.
António Araújo / Lusa
United States Air Force refueling aircraft parked at Lajes Air Base in the Azores on February 19, 2026
Dozens of other aircraftincluding devices used in electronic warfare, are on board the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincolnpositioned off the coast of Oman since the beginning of February, and the USS Gerald R. Ford, which is already in the vicinity of Crete.
Both aircraft carriers sail accompanied by contactorpedeiros with guided missiles that carry dozens of Tomahawkthe type of munition that US forces used to strike Iranian nuclear targets in June.
“Whatever this administration wants to do in relation to Iran, it wants to do so in large scalebut also quickly and with minimal risk of retaliation or negative repercussions,” Brew said.
