“Sometimes it takes fear.” The United States is preparing something unexpected in case of an attack on Iran

The US military is preparing for the possibility of weeks of sustained operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two US officials told Reuters.

Thus the possible conflict that could become much more serious than those previously recorded between the two countries and different from the expectations regarding a possible limited attack, similar to the one last summer on air installations.

The disclosure by the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the secretive nature of the plans, raises the stakes for ongoing talks between the United States and Iran.

US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman last week in an effort to revive diplomacy over Tehran's nuclear program after Trump built up military forces in the region, sparking fears of further military action.

US officials said Friday that the Pentagon is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, bringing thousands of troops and fighter jets, guided-missile destroyers and other weapons capable of launching and defending against attacks.

Trump: “Sometimes you need fear”

Trump, who spoke to US soldiers at a base in North Carolina on Friday, said it was “difficult to get a deal” with Iran.

“Sometimes it takes fear. It's the only thing that's really going to fix the situation,” Trump said.

Asked to comment on preparations for a potentially sustained US military operation, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said: “President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran.”

“He listens to a variety of perspectives on any issue, but makes the final decision based on what's best for our country and national security,” Kelly said.

The United States sent two aircraft carriers to the region last year when it carried out strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities.

However, Operation Midnight Hammer in June was essentially a one-off US strike, with stealth bombers flying from the United States to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran launched a limited retaliatory attack on a US base in Qatar.

Increasing risks

The ongoing planning is more complex, officials said. In a sustained campaign, the US military could strike Iranian state and security targets, not just nuclear infrastructure, one of the officials said. The official declined to provide details.

Experts say the risks to US forces would be much higher in such an operation against Iran, which boasts a formidable arsenal of missiles. Possible Iranian retaliation also raises the risk of a regional conflict.

The same official said the United States expects Iran to retaliate, which would lead to a series of attacks and mutual retaliation over a period of time.

Trump has repeatedly said he will bomb Iran over its nuclear and ballistic programs and crackdown on domestic dissent. Trump on Thursday threatened Iran with “very traumatic” consequences and a “very tough second phase” if it does not accept a deal on its nuclear program

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that in case of attacks on Iranian territory, they can retaliate against any US military base.

The United States has bases in many parts of the Middle East, including Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump in Washington on Wednesday for talks, saying that if a deal is reached with Iran, “it must include the elements that are vital to Israel.”

Iran has said it is ready to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, but has ruled out linking the issue to the size of its missile forces.