Iranian officials are now working on the assumption that United States military strikes on their country are both inevitable and imminent, according to a detailed report first published by The New York Times. The report, citing Iranian officials and security insiders, says Tehran has placed its armed forces on the highest state of alert and is actively preparing for a potential confrontation even as indirect diplomatic contacts with Washington continue.
According to the account, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has delegated extensive wartime and crisis‑management powers to senior insider Ali Larijani, who is overseeing both external defence planning and internal security measures designed to keep the regime in control if conflict erupts. Iranian planners have reportedly drawn up plans to deploy security forces and Basij militia units across major cities to quell any unrest, while positioning ballistic missiles to target US assets and Israel should strikes go ahead.
The New York Times report suggests that Tehran’s assessment of looming US action is shaped by a rapid American military build‑up in the Middle East and open talk in Washington of possible limited strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Analysts quoted in related coverage warn that any US attack could trigger a powerful Iranian response, including missile barrages on regional bases and allies, raising the risk of a wider and more protracted war.
