Iran, U.S. boost military posture as West Asia remains on edge

Tensions escalate in West Asia as the U.S. and Iran bolster military presence amid looming decisions on potential strikes.

Tensions remained high in West Asia on Thursday (February 19, 2026) as the U.S. continued to bolster its military presence in the region, Iran conducted naval drills along with Russia in the Persian Gulf and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei indirectly urged Iranians to resist any external aggression.

“There are many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in Washington, adding that “Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump.”

U.S. media reported on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) that President Donald Trump would decide whether to strike Iran or not as soon as this weekend. The U.S. has deployed one aircraft carrier and dozens of fighter jets, warships, guided destroyers, fuel tankers and missile defence systems to the region. A second aircraft carrier is expected to reach the Mediterranean Sea next week.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted a verse from Quran in social media on Wednesday (February 18, 2026), indicating that an attack could be imminent and urging Iranians to resist. “So should anyone aggress against you, assail him in the manner he assailed you,” it read.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) that Iranian and Russian forces have successfully carried out a mock operation to rescue a hijacked vessel during combat naval drills near the Bandar Abbas port in the Persian Gulf. This is the second live-fire drill IRGC is carrying out since tensions between the U.S. and Iran spiked last month.

Iran and the U.S. held a second round of talks on February 17, 2026 in Geneva under Oman’s mediation. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi had said both sides had made “progress” in talks and agreed on “guiding principles” for future talks. But the Americans were less optimistic. Vice-President J.D. Vance said in an interview that “gaps remain” between the two sides.