US poised for “highly kinetic” campaign against Iran, former Pentagon official warns

The United States is prepared for a “highly kinetic” campaign against Iran following one of its largest recent military buildups in the Middle East, a former senior Pentagon official has claimed.

Dana Stroul, now research director at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, made the assessment as Washington and Tehran prepare for a second round of indirect nuclear talks in Oman.

“The US military is ready for a sustained, highly kinetic campaign should President Trump order it, and also prepared to defend allies and partners in the Middle East from Iran’s missiles,” Stroul told Fox News Digital.

She added, “The US military can rapidly reposition assets from all over the world and deploy overwhelmingly lethal force in a short period of time to one theater. There is no ally or enemy capable of what we have seen from the US in this current buildup.”

The buildup differs from last year’s June 2025 strikes on Iranian-linked nuclear targets, which were limited and highly targeted. Stroul noted that the US has expanded both offensive and defensive capabilities. “Two US aircraft carriers and their accompanying vessels and air wings were stationed in the Middle East last summer during the 12-day war and the US operation Midnight Hammer,” she explained. “The addition of the Ford is really important, it expands US offensive capabilities if we go to war with Iran.”

The US has also increased the number of guided-missile destroyers, fighter aircraft, refuelers, and air defence systems in the region. Aircraft carriers such as the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln have assumed heightened strategic importance. Stroul said, “They will both be in the Middle East CENTCOM theatre. There would probably be a combination of reasons for that based on availability, readiness, [and] proximity to the Middle East. The Ford was heading home and directed to turn around.”

The military deployment comes as indirect diplomatic talks continue, with Oman serving as mediator on February 26. Stroul argued that Iran’s leadership is balancing brinkmanship with negotiation. “Iran’s leaders are playing a weak hand by combining saber-rattling about their own capabilities, staging preparations and exercises to signal readiness. They are attempting to slow this down by pursuing negotiations. No one should be under any illusions about the reality of US dominance — Iran is completely outmatched in conventional terms,” she said.

She also cited Israel’s military operations as evidence of Iran’s vulnerabilities. “Iran’s long-cultivated network of proxies across the region is degraded after more than two years of Israeli operations… No matter what Iran’s leaders say, Iran is not able to rebuild a decades-long project in a few months,” Stroul said. “That said, the US military is in a position to execute whatever orders President Trump gives. It is not a question of military readiness, but a political decision.”

By Vafa Guliyeva