Diplomatic Ultimatums: Pentagon Readies for "Weeks-Long" Campaign as USS Gerald Ford Sails for Iran

According to a report by The New York Times (Feb 13, 2026), the Pentagon is preparing for a potential sustained military campaign against Iran in case the upcoming Geneva talks collapse. Military leaders reportedly advised President Donald Trump to delay any strike until air defenses in 11 neighboring countries were reinforced to withstand an "inevitable" Iranian retaliation.

To bolster this readiness, Trump has ordered the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to redeploy from the Caribbean to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln. This massive naval buildup, including missile-guided destroyers and submarines, aims to secure both offensive and defensive capabilities. While envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff prepare for Tuesday's meeting, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly reiterated that "all options remain on the table," underscoring Trump's "Maximum Pressure" strategy to force a zero-enrichment deal.