Former North Atlantic Treaty Organization commander Admiral James Stavridis has compared the United States military buildup near Iran to the 1990 Persian Gulf War, describing it as resembling 'Dante's Inferno' with layers of escalating force. He outlined a strategy that begins with long range strategic bombers positioned far from the region and moves inward through two aircraft carrier strike groups stationed in the northern Indian Ocean and near Israel, creating dual pressure points around Iran.

Each carrier group carries dozens of advanced combat aircraft, supported by cruise missiles, drones, cyber capabilities and land based air force assets across the region. Stavridis said the concentration of firepower places Iran at the center of a descending ռազմական ring of military pressure and suggested that its leadership would be wise to negotiate.

The buildup comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. The United States has ordered the departure of nonessential diplomatic personnel and families from Lebanon as a precaution, while President Donald Trump has reportedly considered a limited military strike even as further talks are scheduled in Geneva. Iran has warned it would respond ferociously to any attack and cautioned that conflict could spread across the region.