Above photo: US Department of Defence handout/AFP.
Tehran warns of a serious and strong response if Washington joins Israel’s war.
While Trump continues to hint at intervention.
On 18 June, the US began relocating aircraft and naval assets from key military sites in West Asia over concerns of potential Iranian retaliation, two US officials told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The repositioning effort includes aircraft not housed in hardened shelters at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and naval vessels previously stationed at the port of Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. One official said the moves fall under standard force protection procedures. “It is not an uncommon practice,” the official said. “Force protection is the priority.”
The US embassy in Doha issued a security alert the following day, warning embassy personnel and US citizens to increase vigilance and announcing a temporary restriction on access to Al-Udeid, the region’s largest US military installation.
The steps come as US President Donald Trump continues to signal ambiguity over whether the Washington will join Israel’s ongoing war on Iran. “I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday outside the White House.
According to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources, senior US officials are preparing for a possible strike on Iran in the coming days, with some pointing to the weekend as a potential window. The situation was described as fluid and subject to change.
Since the start of the Israeli aerial campaign on 13 June, airstrikes have hit Iranian nuclear and missile infrastructure, prompting mass evacuations in Tehran and elsewhere. Israel claims the operation is aimed at stopping Iran from producing a nuclear weapon. Tehran denies pursuing nuclear arms.
Iran’s envoy to the UN in Geneva said on Wednesday that Tehran has warned Washington it will respond decisively if the US becomes directly involved in Israel’s war effort.
“If we confirm America’s [direct] involvement in the attacks against us, we will respond,” Ambassador Ali Bahreini said. “We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land – we will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint.”
Bahreini added that Tehran already considers Washington complicit in Israeli actions and raised concerns that the US may assist in a potential strike on Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear facility.
The US has also deployed more troops and fighter jets to the region and maintains an estimated 60,000 military personnel across West Asia.
Israel received 14 weapon shipments from US, Germany since start of Iran war
The latest shipments are carrying equipment for the Israeli defense systems used to intercept Iranian missiles
Fourteen military cargo planes have arrived in Israel since the start of Tel Aviv’s brutal war against Iran, the Israeli Defense Ministry confirmed.
According to the ministry, the shipments are part of a broader flow of 800 military cargo planes that have arrived in Israel since the start of the genocidal war against Gaza in October 2023.
The ministry stated the shipment is “part of efforts to strengthen operational continuity and support all the IDF’s needs, both for achieving the goals of the war and for improving readiness and stockpiles.”
Most of these planes originated from the US, while the rest came from Germany.
The ministry confirmed that the latest shipments, which arrived on 19 June, are carrying equipment for Israel’s defense systems, which are being used to intercept Iran’s retaliatory ballistic missile strikes against Israeli targets.
Military cargo planes are expected to continue arriving in the coming weeks, the Israeli Defense Ministry added. It said that these shipments are part of a joint effort involving the Defense Procurement Administration, procurement delegations in the US and Germany, the Israeli army’s Planning and Force Build-Up Directorate, and the Israeli Air Force.
The US has continued to funnel massive amounts of weapons and military equipment into Israel, and has deployed warships and fighter jets to the region to help the Israeli army in its attempts to shoot down Iranian missiles.
Middle East Eye (MEE) reported on 14 June that before the Israeli attack on Iran last Friday, the US covertly delivered about 300 Hellfire missiles to Israel.
Since the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza began, Washington has delivered over 90,000 tons of armaments and military equipment.
“The US is a partner in the Israeli aggression against Iran, even if it does not participate publicly,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on 20 June.
Over the past few days, there has been widespread anticipation over a potential decision by US President Donald Trump to directly enter the war against Iran – particularly for joint strikes on the Fordow nuclear facility.
“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Trump said on Thursday.
Reports in Hebrew media have said Trump may be trying to deceive the Iranians, and could be planning to enter the war much sooner.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN said in Geneva on 18 June that Tehran will “respond seriously and strongly” if Washington directly enters the Israeli war.
The Islamic Republic had previously warned that all US bases in the region were within its reach and would be targeted if Washington launched an attack against the country.
