The United States is reportedly mulling astrikeon Iran as early as this weekend, but PresidentDonald Trumphas yet to make the final decision. Earlier today, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that diplomacy is the first option for Trump before consideringmilitary actionagainst Iran, adding that it would be wise for Iran to reach a deal with the US. The US has already deployed thousands of troops along with fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and other firepower capable of waging attacks and defending against them in the Middle East amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The US military is prepared to strike Iran as early as this weekend, reported CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter. However, Trump is yet to take the call on whether he will authorise such actions or not. The White House has been briefed that the military could be ready for an attack by the weekend, after a significant buildup in recent days of air and naval assets in the Middle East, the sources told CNN. Top administration, including the national security officials, met on Wednesday in the White House Situation Room to discuss the situation in Iran. "He is spending a lot of time thinking about this," one source told the news portal.

Notably, the US’ readiness to strike by the weekend was first reported by CBS News. Earlier, an Axios report also stated that the US may launch a full-throttle attack on Iran sooner than its citizens may be speculating.

Also Read -United States' Full-Scale, Weeks-Long Attack on Iran Could Come Sooner Than World Anticipates: Report

Another report by news agency Reuters claims that the US military may have been planning for a long haul, as the attack could stretch for several weeks, unlike in Venezuela, which lasted for only a day.

A report by the New York Post also suggested that the US could be ready to launch a “sustained” bombing campaign on Iran in weeks or even days. The military build-up is highly unusual and unprecedented in recent decades, former Pentagon official and Atlantic Council fellow Alex Plitsas told The Post.

Last week, Trump embraced potential regime change in Iran and declared that "tremendous power" will soon be in the Middle East. Trump said that a change in power in Iran would be the "best thing". "It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen," Trump said in an exchange with reporters when asked about pressing for the ouster of the Islamic clerical rule in Iran. "For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking."

Trump’s comments advocating for a potential end to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule come just weeks after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a potential change in power in Iran would be "far more complex" than the administration’s recent effort to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power.

The United States has already deployed warships, including USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, that is considered as the world's largest, in the region. According to US defence officials, the deployment also includes four guided-missile destroyers, USS Frank E Peterson Jr, USS Spruance, USS Mitscher, and USS McFaul, along with two littoral combat ships, the USS Santa Barbara and the USS Canberra.

The four destroyers carry Tomahawk missiles that can reach targets up to 2,500 kilometres away. These missiles let the US Navy attack accurately if needed. The smaller littoral combat ships can move quickly and work near the coast, giving the US more options in the area.

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