On February 22, the United States had deployed 16 combat ships, 40,000 military personnel, and seven aviation wings to the Middle East, according to RIA Novosti. President Donald Trump said he had sent a "huge armada" and expressed hope for nuclear negotiations with Iran. The following day, the US positioned 70 aircraft at bases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia for a potential attack on Iran, the largest US military grouping in the region since 2003, SVR.TV News reported via Telegram.

On February 24, 12 US F-22 fighters were deployed from England to a southern Israeli air base, according to Telegraf.rs. By February 25, more than 300 aircraft had been deployed since early January across bases in Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and on aircraft carriers, supported by 270 logistical flights. Strategic bombers began deploying to RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom on February 28.

On March 1, B-2 Spirit bombers struck fortified Iranian targets under Operation "Epic Fury," dropping dozens of 900-kilogram bombs, with three US personnel killed and five wounded. The strikes hit 170 targets in response to Iranian attacks on tankers. By March 10, the UK-based bomber force reached 11 B-1Bs and 3 B-52Hs. On March 12, three B-1B bombers at RAF Fairford were loaded with bunker-busting bombs equipped with JDAM guidance systems for strikes against Iran, according to Al Jazeera.

Over subsequent days, F-15Es deployed from the UK, and B-1 and B-52H bombers joined strikes on Iranian missile facilities. By March 24, additional F-16s were stationed at Ovda Air Base in Israel, bringing the US tactical aviation group to about 250 aircraft. On March 15, the USS Tripoli transited the South China Sea toward the Middle East. Two amphibious groups heading to the Arabian Sea were reported on March 23. The USS Tripoli arrived in the CENTCOM area on March 27, and four F-35Cs deployed from the UK the following day.

On April 1, Iranian Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi warned that UK bases, including RAF Fairford, are legitimate targets after US bombers launched from there, stating the base is used to arm American jets against Iranian people, WION News reported.

Throughout April, US forces continued to build up. By April 8, 12 A-10s deployed to Jordan. The Russian Security Council stated on April 14 that more than 50,000 US personnel were in the region. On April 24, 12 F/A-18s arrived in the UAE, pushing the tactical aviation group past 300 combat aircraft. On April 27, CENTCOM announced full readiness amid deadlock in ceasefire talks, with two carriers, over 20 ships, and 200 combat aircraft near Iran, plus 23 bombers at Fairford.

By May 12, more than 20 ships, including two carriers, were blockading Iranian merchant ships. Despite a ceasefire, training flights continued. The bomber group at Fairford reached 27 aircraft (18 B-1Bs, 9 B-52Hs) by June 15. On June 18, 18 F-35As deployed to Jordan, maintaining the US tactical aviation group at about 300 aircraft. The following day, CENTCOM reconfirmed full readiness with approximately 50,000 troops, more than 20 ships, and about 300 aircraft.

On July 1, USS Boxer and USS Portland arrived with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and 12 F-16Cs deployed to Saudi Arabia. On July 2, the US withdrew all B-52Hs from Fairford, ending a deployment that struck approximately 13,000 targets. Eleven B-1Bs and 15 F-15Es remained in the UK. CENTCOM reported on July 8 the naval force near Iran comprised over 20 warships, including two carriers, a cruiser, 13 destroyers, three amphibious ships, and submarines. Iran stated on July 11 it was monitoring US movements.

On July 19, the US deployed additional F-35 and F-16 squadrons and tankers, with about 200 combat aircraft in the region. Over 20 additional fighters arrived from Europe on July 20. On July 23, Interfax reported that the US notified Israel of plans to intensify strikes, and 12 B-1Bs remained at Fairford. Later that day, the US deployed approximately 80 more combat aircraft to bases in Jordan, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, raising the total on Middle Eastern bases to 150, with over 100 on carriers.

On July 24, the United Kingdom declared its armed forces ready to defend the country after Iran threatened to attack RAF Fairford, which Iran considers a legitimate target due to US use of the base for strikes on Iranian territory, Interfax reported. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any base supporting attacks on Iran is a legitimate target, while UK officials described US operations as defensive, according to International Business Times UK.

On July 28, the US Navy deployed a group of 17 combat ships in the Arabian Sea, including two nuclear aircraft carriers, a cruiser, 11 destroyers, and three amphibious ships, Interfax reported. At RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, 12 B-1B Lancer bombers were also deployed, having conducted raids on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets the previous week, according to Interfax. Until the previous Friday, these ships had been conducting daily strikes on Iran. President Trump stated that if negotiations prove ineffective, strikes would resume.