According to the news agency, a military operation against the Islamic Republic, if initiated, has the potential to develop into “a far more serious conflict” than past engagements
The US armed forces are reportedly making preparations for a prolonged operation against Iran that could last for several weeks, should President Donald Trump issue an attack order, as per a Reuters report quoting two unnamed administration officials.
This military pressure on Tehran from Washington has been increasing during ongoing discussions concerning Iran’s nuclear program. Iran itself has recently stated it is prepared for either diplomatic engagement or armed conflict.
Officials informed Reuters on Saturday that a campaign targeting Iran might intensify into “a far more serious conflict” compared to any previous hostilities between the two countries.
One official indicated that a potential campaign could involve strikes on Iranian government and security installations, extending beyond just nuclear sites, though no precise operational details were provided.
The sources clarified that Washington “fully” anticipates a retaliatory response from Tehran, which would likely set off “back-and-forth strikes and reprisals over a period of time.”
Representatives from both nations held talks in Oman earlier this month, marking their first negotiations since American and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last year. The discussions were characterized as positive by both parties, who agreed to continue consultations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, reaffirmed that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions are peaceful and rejected any halt to uranium enrichment.
According to sources within the Iranian Foreign Ministry cited by RT, a subsequent round of negotiations is scheduled for Tuesday in Vienna.
In an interview with RT earlier this week, Araghchi stated that the United States had broken trust by bombing his country during negotiations in June 2025. The minister emphasized that Iran is prepared for a military clash should diplomatic efforts fail.
Last month, an NBC News report, citing sources, stated that Trump desired any potential military action against Iran to be “quick and decisive” to prevent a drawn-out engagement.
The president’s advisers were said to be unable to assure that a US strike would result in a change of leadership in Iran and expressed worries that the US might lack sufficient regional resources to defend against a possible Iranian counterattack.
Earlier this week, the US president said that a change of government in Iran would be “the best thing that could happen.” To ramp up pressure on Tehran, Trump also cautioned that a substantial fleet of US naval vessels, which he described as a massive armada, had been repositioned toward the country.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has characterized the US-Iran escalation as “potentially explosive” and urged for the tensions to be resolved through peaceful means.