US rushes air defenses to Mideast as Trump pushes for ‘decisive’ options on Iran

President reportedly pushing his advisers to draft “decisive” military options for Iran while American aircraft carrier, fighter jets, and air defense systems are rushed to the Middle East.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump has refused to rule out the use of military force against Iran, despite signs that tensions between the US and Iran have deescalated after Tehran told the Trump administration it would not hang jailed anti-regime protesters.

Speaking with reporters at the White House on Tuesday, the president said that while Iran has committed not to execute the more than 800 dissidents recently sentenced to death, the US could still intervene.

“Is the military option off the table? No,” Trump said. “We’re just going to have to see what happens with Iran.”

Officials cited in a report published by The Wall Street Journal said Trump has ordered his advisers to present him with “decisive” options for military action against the Iranian government.

The report, coupled with the movement of American military assets, has fueled speculation that Trump is leaning toward a broad campaign in Iran aimed at toppling the regime.

A carrier battlegroup, centered around the nuclear-powered Nimitz-class USS Abraham Lincoln, is expected to arrive in the region over the weekend, while F-15E fighter jets from the US Air Force 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron recently landed in Jordan.

According to the Journal report, the US is also deploying air defense missile systems to the Middle East, including Patriot missile batteries and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors.

The US previously deployed both Patriot and THAAD missile systems to help Israel repel Iranian ballistic missile attacks.

Officials say the deployment of the air defense systems was carried out in part as a response to ongoing concerns in Israel over possible Iranian attacks in the event of an American air campaign.