Iran prepares missiles for potential strike on US bases

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, American military commanders on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, placed U.S. forces on high alert across the region due to rising concerns of a broader conflict based on intelligence reports reviewed by American officials.

According to online media sources, the reports indicate that Iran has readied missiles and other weaponry for potential strikes on U.S. bases in the Middle East, should the United States become directly involved in Israel’s ongoing confrontation with Tehran.

To prepare for any potential escalation, the U.S. has deployed around three dozen aerial refueling tankers to Europe.

These aircraft could be used to support American fighter jets defending regional bases or to extend the range of bombers in the event of an assault on Iranian nuclear sites.

The likelihood of a regional war is becoming more pressing for American officials as Israel increases pressure on Washington to take military action.

Should the U.S. choose to participate and target Iran’s Fordo nuclear site, officials warn that Iran’s allies, notably the Houthi rebels, are likely to resume attacks on maritime vessels in the Red Sea.

Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Syria may also launch coordinated attacks on American bases stationed there.

Officials also caution that Iran might respond by deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially trapping American naval forces within the Persian Gulf.

U.S. troops at military installations in nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have been put on heightened alert.

Currently, the U.S. maintains over 40,000 military personnel throughout the Middle East.

Two Iranian officials have stated that if the U.S. enters the conflict alongside Israel, Iran will retaliate by targeting American bases, starting with those in Iraq.

They emphasized that any Arab country hosting U.S. forces that take part in strikes would also be viewed as legitimate targets.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Monday that military force would not coerce Iran into submission.

In discussions with European leaders, Araghchi placed responsibility for any expansion of the conflict on Israel and its supporters, according to a summary from Iran’s foreign ministry.

According to U.S. intelligence, Iran would need minimal preparation to launch an attack. Iranian missile installations are already in range of American bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE.

The threat of American involvement has grown more acute in recent days, particularly as Iran has fired volleys of missiles at Israel in response to Israeli military actions.

It remains uncertain how much impact a potential U.S. or Israeli strike on Fordo would have on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Much of Iran’s enriched uranium is concealed in fortified tunnels spread across the country, complicating efforts to neutralize the program completely.

While some U.S. officials believe Israeli forces could damage Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, they argue that meaningful disruption would likely require American assistance.

This support could come in the form of air cover for Israeli ground operatives or direct strikes using U.S. B-2 stealth bombers equipped with Massive Ordnance Penetrators, capable of targeting heavily fortified underground facilities like Fordo.

Any attack on Fordo, with or without U.S. involvement, is expected to trigger retaliation from Iran and its regional allies.

Historically, these groups have successfully targeted American interests.

For instance, in January 2024, an Iran-backed militia launched a drone strike on a U.S. base near the Syrian border in Jordan, resulting in the deaths of three American soldiers.

Although the Houthis had reduced their attacks following Trump-era airstrikes, they have continued to target U.S. and commercial vessels intermittently.

American intelligence has long assessed that while Iran is close to the technical threshold of building a nuclear weapon, it has not made the decision to pursue one.

If Iran chooses to do so, officials estimate it could field a weapon within a year, and possibly construct a rudimentary version even sooner.

Former President Trump has consistently maintained that Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, recently calling for Iran’s unconditional surrender.

However, some U.S. officials believe that recent Israeli attacks might push Tehran toward developing a nuclear deterrent.

If Iran appears committed to building a nuclear arsenal regardless of external pressure, calls may grow for the U.S. to launch preemptive strikes.

Still, critics of a military-first approach argue that the U.S. can and should de-escalate.

Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East program at Defense Priorities, emphasized that Israeli actions may have strengthened Iran’s incentive to pursue nuclear weapons.

But on the other hand, according to him, the involvement of the U.S. would significantly amplify that motivation.

“Once you’re in,” she noted, “it’s incredibly difficult to pull back, it becomes an all-in scenario.”

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