America has sent six more E-3 spy planes to the region.
The move, along with the presence of a major cruise missile-firing submarine in the area, indicates the US’s readiness for conflict.
Generally, the arrival of E-3s in an area symbolises US readiness to launch attacks on enemy targets. A source told The Mirror: “The large E-3 deployment is widely seen as a final-step indicator before potentially major air operations.”
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“The fact that they will soon be deployed somewhere in the Middle East means that the United States military is ready for war,” the source said.
The six E-3 Sentry aircraft include two from Alaska via RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom and four from Oklahoma en route to Ramstein in Germany. Both structures will be transported within the Middle East.
It is also believed that a submarine loaded with Tomahawk missiles is hidden in the bay. This submarine played a major role in Operation Midnight Hammer against Tehran’s nuclear plants in June 2025.
The US is also believed to have a large amount of hardware parked near Oman, either as part of the US fleet or carrying fighter jets to bases in the Middle East.
It is understood that a squadron of F-22 Raptors has already been dispatched to a base in Jordan to help defend Israel against possible Iranian missile attacks.
US President Donald Trump first threatened military action against the Tehran regime in January, following a brutal crackdown on protesters in the Middle Eastern country. Thousands of Iranians were killed.
At the time, President Trump told protesters that his country would “come to their defence” if the government “violently executes peaceful protesters”.
Since then there has been a dispute between the two countries regarding nuclear and ballistic weapons.
Iran has agreed to discuss its nuclear programme but is refusing to deal with its ballistic missile policy, a red line of threat to US ally Israel.
Despite the threat of war, Tehran remains defiant.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei told President Trump in a message, “The warship is a dangerous device,” he said. “But even more dangerous is the weapon that can send that warship deep into the ocean.”
President Trump has warned Tehran that failure to reach an agreement could lead to attacks.
He also said that he could tell where Iranian leaders were living and that he would not feel safe if Supreme Leader Khamenei were there.
