US Military Planning Against Iran Advances as Protests Intensify and Nuclear Talks Loom.
U.S. military planning for a potential operation against Iran has entered what officials describe as “advanced stages,” underscoring how rapidly the crisis surrounding Tehran is escalating. An anonymous U.S. official told Al Jazeera that American forces across the Middle East are now fully prepared for “any contingency,” as Washington weighs military options alongside collapsing diplomacy.
The warning comes amid Iran’s most serious internal unrest in decades. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 544 people have been killed in just over two weeks of nationwide protests, including hundreds of demonstrators and several minors. More than 10,600 people have been arrested, with many additional deaths still under investigation. Internet shutdowns and mass detentions suggest the Iranian leadership is bracing for a prolonged confrontation with its own population.
Against this backdrop, diplomacy is moving on two tracks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi quietly reached out to Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss the protests, signaling Tehran’s growing unease. At the same time, President Donald Trump confirmed that Iran has asked to resume negotiations on a new nuclear deal — even as he warned that Washington may “need to act” before any talks take place.
That contradiction defines the current moment. On one hand, Iran is seeking relief through negotiation. On the other, the U.S. is openly signaling readiness to use force. Trump’s blunt assessment — that Iran is “tired of being beaten up by the United States” — reflects a belief in Washington that pressure, not compromise, is driving Tehran back to the table.
The strategic calculation is clear. With Iran distracted by internal revolt, its deterrence weakened, and regional proxies under strain, U.S. planners see a narrowing window in which military action could reshape the balance of power. Tehran’s outreach for talks may be less a diplomatic opening than an attempt to buy time.
Whether this moment ends in negotiations or confrontation now depends on how far the protests spread — and how quickly Washington decides that diplomacy has run out of road. One thing is certain: the U.S.–Iran standoff has entered its most dangerous phase in years.
