US Not Ready for Immediate Military Strike on Iran: Wall Street Journal

Tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate, with Washington deploying a wide range of military assets across the Middle East. However, the influential US newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that the United States is not yet prepared to launch a military attack on Iran.

Citing anonymous officials, the report says Washington is concerned that Iran could carry out retaliatory strikes following any US attack. To counter such retaliation, the United States believes it must first strengthen air defense systems at its military bases across the region. Until these measures are fully in place, US officials are reluctant to initiate any military action.

According to the report, the US has sent significant military forces and weaponry to the Middle East over the past several weeks. Former President Donald Trump described the deployment as “a big and beautiful armada.” At the center of this force is the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, aimed at exerting maximum pressure on Iran to push it toward a new nuclear agreement.

Despite these preparations, WSJ notes that a US airstrike on Iran is “not imminent.” One key reason is Washington’s inability, so far, to fully guarantee the security of its troops in the region as well as the safety of its allies, including Israel and several Arab states.

Pentagon officials have confirmed that the US is deploying additional THAAD and Patriot air defense systems to American bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

It is worth noting that in June last year, US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities prompted Iran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and missile strikes on the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Although damage was limited due to advance warnings, Washington is now attempting to address those vulnerabilities before taking any new military action.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that if the United States initiates a war, it would escalate into a region-wide conflict across the Middle East. Responding to the warning, Trump said, “Of course he would say that,” while also signaling that diplomatic options remain open.

On the diplomatic front, Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that some progress is being made toward talks with the United States. Russia has also called for dialogue, cautioning that any use of force could plunge the entire region into severe instability.