Is The US Attacking Iran This Weekend
Segment #796
When Ambassador Huckabay gave permission for families to leave the American embassy in Jerusalem immediately, the urgency of the situation became obvious. If the US attacks Iran, Iran will not only respond by attacking US bases and military all over the Middle East, it will attack Israel in force knowing it is entirely possible the conflict won’t last very long.
The most powerful aircraft carrier on Earth… is now off Israel’s coast. The USS Gerald R. Ford. And the question everyone is asking tonight — Is the U.S. preparing to strike Iran within hours? On February 27, 2026, the USS Gerald R. Ford — America’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier — arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean near Israel. The 100,000-ton nuclear-powered supercarrier left Souda Bay in Crete just a day earlier. Now, it’s operating near Israel’s northern coastline, close to Haifa. This is not routine. The Ford carries more than 75 aircraft. Advanced fighter jets. Electronic warfare systems. Missile defense capabilities. It is essentially a floating air base — capable of launching sustained combat operations.
As of Friday, February 27, 2026, the probability of a U.S. strike on Iran within the next 72 hours is considered exceptionally high, though not yet a certainty. Geopolitical analysts and military indicators suggest we are in the "final hours" of a diplomatic window that is rapidly closing.
The situation has reached a critical flashpoint following the conclusion of the third round of nuclear talks in Geneva on February 26, which ended without a breakthrough.
Key Indicators of Imminent Conflict
The following developments highlight the gravity of the 72-hour window:
The "15-Day Ultimatum": The Trump administration issued a deadline in mid-February, demanding a definitive nuclear agreement from Tehran. That deadline is reportedly expiring within the next few days.
Military Buildup: The U.S. has amassed its largest military presence in the Middle East since 2003. This includes two aircraft carrier strike groups (led by the USS Gerald R. Ford), F-22 stealth fighters, and extensive refueling and logistics assets.
Evacuation Orders: In the last 24 hours, the State Department authorized the departure of non-essential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Israel. Several nations, including China and South Korea, have ordered their citizens to leave Iran immediately.
Presidential Rhetoric: President Trump stated today (Friday) that he is "not happy" with the negotiations and, while he hasn't made a "final decision," he reiterated that military force remains a viable option.
The Trump administration is warning of “steep consequences” if ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program fail. With the United States gathering its biggest presence of aircraft in the region since the Iraq War, the White House looks to be readying for potential strikes on Iran. But what are those options, and how feasible are they? Retired Gen. David Petraeus served 37 years in the U.S. Army, commanding U.S. forces in the Middle East during the Iraq War. He also served as the director of the CIA. Petraeus sat down with FP’s Ravi Agrawal to assess U.S. options in Iran and how Tehran might respond. Watch the full interview here: https://foreignpolicy.com/live/united...
The "Pause" Factors
While the risk is at its peak, two factors could delay or prevent a strike in the next 72 hours:
Diplomatic "Hail Mary": Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi is reportedly in Washington today for emergency meetings with Vice President JD Vance to stave off war.
Strategic Scheduling: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel this coming Monday and Tuesday. Military operations often avoid overlapping with high-level diplomatic travel unless the strike is intended to coincide with the visit for symbolic reasons.
Summary Table: Current Posture
FactorStatusImplicationNegotiationsDeadlockedHigh risk of "Maximum Pressure" transitioning to kinetic action.U.S. Military"Combat Ready"Force is positioned for a "Desert Fox" style limited bombing campaign.Global ResponseMass EvacuationsIndicates foreign intelligence services believe strikes are imminent.DeadlineExpiringThe 72-hour window aligns with the end of the U.S. ultimatum.
Assessment: Most defense analysts currently place the probability of military action at its highest level in decades. While the "next 72 hours" is a critical window, the start of next week (post-Rubio visit) is also being watched as a high-probability alternate timeframe if the current Omani mediation fails.
Would you like me to monitor for any specific military movement or official White House statements over the next few hours?
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Iran Resistance Group (MEK) Has Bipartisan Support In U.S. Congress. For years, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have shown strong support for the MEK, the primary resistance organization against the Iranian regime. Lawmakers as diverse as Senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy have advocated on behalf of members of the group. In our latest episode of “Iran: The Untold Story,” former Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) tells us about how bipartisan support for the group has grown over the decades, since the Islamic Revolution unfolded. Poe also makes the case that the leadership of the MEK and the broader coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, is prepared to step in to govern Iran should the current regime fall.