Reuters:

The US military ⁠is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald ⁠Trump orders an attack, two American officials told Reuters, in what ​could become a far more serious conflict than previously seen between the countries.

The disclosure by the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity ⁠due to the sensitive nature of the planning, raises the stakes for the diplomacy under way between the US and Iran.

US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman last week in an effort to revive diplomacy over Tehran's nuclear programme, after Mr Trump amassed military forces in the ⁠region, raising fears of new military action.

US officials said on Friday the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the ​Middle East, ⁠adding thousands more troops along with fighter ‌aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and other firepower capable of waging attacks and defending against them.

Mr Trump, speaking to US troops on Friday at ​a base in North Carolina, said it had “been difficult to make a deal” with Iran.

“Sometimes you have to have fear. That's the only thing that really will get the situation taken care of,” he said.

Asked for comment on the preparations for a potentially sustained US military operation, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: “President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran.”

“He listens to a variety of perspectives on any given issue, but makes the final decision based on what is best for our country and national security,” she said.

The Pentagon declined to comment.

The US sent two aircraft carriers to the region last year, when it carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

However, June's “Midnight Hammer” operation was essentially a one-off US attack, with stealth bombers flying from the US to strike Iranian nuclear installations. Iran staged a very limited retaliatory strike on a US base in Qatar.

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