U.S. Forces Poised for Potential Iran Strike as Tehran Accelerates War Preparations

Updated 2026-02-20 01:00:34+00:00 (5 articles)

Weekend Strike Timeline Set by White House Briefing The White House has been briefed that U.S. forces could be ready to launch an attack on Iran as early as the coming weekend, following a rapid surge of air and naval assets that now includes two aircraft carriers positioned in the region [1]. The buildup reflects a shift from routine presence to a posture capable of immediate kinetic action [1]. U.S. commanders are reportedly finalizing targeting plans while maintaining diplomatic channels [1].

Iran Rebuilds Missile Infrastructure Faster Than Expected Satellite imagery released on February 10, 2026 shows three of the twelve missile structures destroyed at the Imam Ali Missile Base have been rebuilt, alongside runway work at Tabriz air base and repairs at Hamadan [1]. The Shahrud solid‑propellant missile plant has also been restored, suggesting Iran’s missile production capacity may now exceed pre‑war levels [1]. These rapid repairs indicate a concerted effort to restore strategic strike capabilities ahead of any potential conflict [1].

Nuclear Facilities Hardened Against Air Assaults High‑resolution images reveal fresh concrete poured at tunnel entrances of the Pickaxe Mountain complex near Natanz, effectively reinforcing the site against aerial bombardment [1]. A concrete sarcophagus topped with soil has been constructed over the Taleghan 2 facility in Parchin, turning it into a bunker‑like structure [1]. These fortifications demonstrate Tehran’s intent to protect its nuclear program from a possible U.S. strike [1].

Security Council Reorganized and Dissent Crushed The Supreme National Security Council, led by Ali Larijani, has been expanded, and a new Defense Council headed by former IRGC commander Ali Shamkhani was created to coordinate war‑time preparations [1]. Security forces have violently suppressed nationwide protests, killing thousands and arresting many, including four reformist figures accused of incitement [1]. The crackdown underscores the regime’s heightened paranoia as it braces for potential conflict [1].

Sources

1.
CNN: US Military Buildup Raises Prospect of Strike on Iran Amid Tehran’s War Preparations – Details the imminent U.S. strike timeline, Iran’s accelerated missile and nuclear site reconstruction, the reshaped security governance, and the intensified repression of dissent, highlighting the escalating brinkmanship between Washington and Tehran .
2026-02-20 01:00:34+00:00

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Timeline

June 13 2025 – Israeli forces destroy the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) at Natanz, rendering the main enrichment building “functionally destroyed,” and a follow‑up U.S. strike on June 22 further damages underground cascades, marking the first major blows to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in the June 2025 Israel‑U.S. war [4].

June 2025 – Iran’s missile sites, including the Imam Ali Missile Base, suffer extensive damage from the Israeli strike; reconstruction later accelerates, signaling Tehran’s intent to restore its conventional deterrent [1].

December 13 2025 – Satellite imagery shows panels installed over the damaged anti‑drone cage at the Natanz PFEP, providing shelter for the rubble and allowing Iran to study or retrieve material while keeping the site concealed from external observers [3].

December 2025 (by end of month) – Iran erects concrete roofs over the wrecked structures at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center and Natanz enrichment plant, effectively blocking satellite monitoring and hindering IAEA verification of any surviving nuclear material [4].

December 22 2025 – In an RT interview, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declares, “Technology cannot be bombed,” and vows that Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful despite U.S. strikes that damaged three major sites, while former President Donald Trump warns any new Iranian nuclear activity will be bombed [2].

January 19 2026 – The IAEA reports it cannot verify the status of Iran’s 440.9 kg of 60 % enriched uranium stockpile after the June conflict, warning that internal protests and regime instability could erode safeguards and raise the risk of diversion or sabotage of the Bushehr reactor [5].

January 31 2026 – New satellite images confirm the roofs over Isfahan and Natanz, show expanding earthworks at the “Pickaxe Mountain” site south of Natanz indicating construction of a new underground facility, and reveal rapid rebuilding of Parchin’s Taleghan 2 site with a large containment vessel for high‑explosive testing [4].

February 10 2026 – High‑resolution photos capture fresh concrete sealing tunnel entrances at the Pickaxe Mountain complex near Natanz and a concrete sarcophagus topped with soil at the Taleghan 2 site in Parchin, effectively bunkerizing Iran’s key nuclear facilities against air attacks [1].

February 2026 (weekend of Feb 22‑23) – The White House briefs that a surge of U.S. air and naval assets, including two aircraft carriers, could enable a strike on Iran as early as the coming weekend, reflecting heightened U.S. readiness amid Tehran’s war preparations [1].

February 2026 – Iran rapidly repairs three of twelve destroyed structures at the Imam Ali Missile Base, restores runways at Tabriz and Hamadan air bases, and rebuilds the Shahrud solid‑propellant missile plant, suggesting missile production may now exceed pre‑war levels [1].

February 2026 – The Supreme National Security Council is bolstered under Ali Larijani, and a new Defense Council headed by former IRGC commander Ali Shamkhani is created to “strengthen defense preparations” and develop counter‑threat mechanisms [1].

February 2026 – Iranian security forces violently suppress nationwide protests, killing thousands and detaining reformist figures, while the IRGC temporarily closes parts of the Strait of Hormuz, conducts joint naval drills with Russia to retake a mock hijacked ship, and threatens a U.S.-flagged tanker, underscoring Tehran’s intent to make any conflict costly for Washington [1].