The US military is continuing a significant buildup of air and naval assets in the Middle East ahead of planned talks with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday. Among the potential targets for strikes are the headquarters of the IRGC and other military installations beyond Iranian nuclear sites, according to multiple sources. Those could resemble Operation Midnight Hammer last summer, when the US struck Iranian nuclear sites toward the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran war, they added. They have lobbied for holding off on military action to give diplomacy more time, according to sources familiar with the talks. Iran, meanwhile, held further military exercises less than 24 hours ahead of the Geneva talks.

Source: Egypt Independent February 17, 2026 11:32 UTC