The United States is quietly preparing for a possible military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, according to multiple indicators observed across the region.
The movements of strategic assets and recent diplomatic communications point to growing tensions as the deadline for renewed nuclear negotiations nears.
B-2 Spirit bombers have landed on Diego Garcia, a tiny island in the Indian Ocean that serves as a strategic hub for operations everywhere from the Middle East to Africa to the Indo-Pacific, a spokesperson for Air Force Global Strike Command confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Confirmation of the bombers’ arrival comes after days of speculation, fueled by aviation enthusiasts and open-source intelligence analysts tracking movements using FAA identifiers, radio transmissions, and flight tracking data.
It’s an unusual deployment for the B-2. While Diego Garcia hosts Air Force bombers on a fairly regular basis, B-2s haven’t spent significant time there since 2020. Last August marked the first time in four years that a B-2 even touched down there when a bomber made a quick “hot pit” stop with its engines running.
A spokesperson for AFGSC said multiple bombers are on the island but could not comment on why they are there. An official previously said that the command “routinely conducts global operations … to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies.”
It is possible the B-2s are deploying as part of regularly scheduled Bomber Task Force rotation—Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia has supported BTFs before. They could also be set to join the U.S.’s recently expanded air campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. B-2s were used to bomb the Houthis last October, though they did not fly to Diego Garcia for that mission.
According to flight tracking data and open-source intelligence, C-17 cargo planes and KC-135 tankers are supporting the bombers.
In recent days, observers have noted the redeployment of several B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from the U.S. Air Force’s 509th Bomb Wing to Diego Garcia, a remote base in the Indian Ocean often used for long-range strike operations.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has established a no-fly zone over the island through May 1.
The deployment includes a broader support package: ten KC-135R Stratotanker refueling aircraft and three C-17 transport planes have also arrived on the island in the past 48 hours. These moves, coupled with heightened regional surveillance, suggest the U.S. is increasing its readiness for a potential precision strike mission.
Additionally, the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group has departed the western Pacific and is currently en route to the Arabian Sea, where the USS Harry S. Truman is already conducting operations, including airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. The convergence of two carrier groups adds further weight to speculation about preparations for action.
These developments come as President Donald Trump reportedly sent a direct and “firm” letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Axios, Trump gave Tehran two months to agree to a new nuclear deal, warning of “consequences” if Iran continues advancing its nuclear program.
The U.S. administration is concerned by Iran’s progress toward a nuclear weapons capability. Intelligence assessments suggest Iran is closer than ever to assembling a nuclear device, a shift that has prompted renewed urgency in Washington.
Military analysts note that any U.S. strike on Iran’s hardened and dispersed nuclear facilities would require coordinated, long-range precision attacks, likely involving stealth aircraft such as the B-2 and support from naval platforms already in the region.
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