Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:25am on 20 Feb 2026,Friday International
The United States has significantly reinforced its military presence across the Middle East, deploying large forces — including two aircraft carrier strike groups and advanced air and naval assets — amid rising tensions with Iran. President Donald Trump says negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear programme could be resolved within about 10 days, but also warns “bad things” will happen if Iran continues to threaten regional stability. Experts note the scale of forces now in place could support sustained air operations, though the strategic goal beyond deterrence remains unclear. Tehran has vowed retaliation if attacked, while global concerns grow over potential wider conflict. (PC: AP)
