US Air Force tanker aircraft were reportedly moving across the Atlantic on Monday, as talks with Iran are scheduled for Tuesday.
KC-135 and KC-46 Pegasus refuelling aircraft were observed heading northeast across the United States toward Europe.
US president Donald Trump has also told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December that Washington would support Israeli strikes on Iran if a nuclear deal was not reached, CBS News reported.
Citing two sources, the report said US military and intelligence officials later began assessing the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran.
Meanwhile, the US military is reportedly preparing for the possibility of sustained operations against Iran if Trump orders an attack, two US officials told Reuters. The officials said the planning includes scenarios lasting several weeks.
Trump, speaking after a military event at Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Friday, raised the possibility of changing Iran’s government, saying it “seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.”
He declined to specify who should lead Iran, but said “there are people.” He added, “for 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking.”
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to hold talks with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday, with Omani representatives acting as mediators.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Donald Trump prefers a deal with Tehran but added that “that’s very hard to do.”
What is the KC-135?
The KC-135 Stratotanker is a key aerial refuelling aircraft for the US Air Force and has been in service for more than 60 years. It supports global operations by refuelling US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied aircraft, and can also transport patients during aeromedical evacuations using support pallets.
FeaturesThe KC-135 is powered by four turbofan engines mounted under 35-degree swept wings and can take off at weights of up to 322,500 pounds.
It includes a cargo deck that can carry passengers and cargo, with capacity of up to 83,000 pounds depending on fuel configuration. Most internal fuel can be transferred through its primary refuelling system, a flying boom operated by a dedicated crew member positioned at the rear of the aircraft.
What is the KC-46A Pegasus?
The KC-46A is part of the US Air Force’s effort to replace its aging tanker fleet. It has expanded refuelling, cargo, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities compared to the KC-135 and provides aerial refuelling support to US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and partner-nation aircraft.
FeaturesThe KC-46A is designed to refuel most fixed-wing aircraft capable of receiving fuel. It uses a fly-by-wire refuelling boom and a hose-and-drogue system, with fuel transferable through the boom, drogue, and wing-mounted pods, allowing simultaneous multi-point refuelling.
A boom operator controls the refuelling systems from a dedicated station with panoramic displays.
The aircraft can carry passengers, cargo, and patients for aeromedical evacuation. It is powered by two turbofan engines and can take off at weights of up to 415,000 pounds. Depending on configuration, it can carry up to 65,000 pounds of cargo and up to 18 pallets, with flexible layouts for mixed cargo and passenger loads. It is also equipped with communication and defensive systems.
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