The United States’s long and antagonistic relationship with Iran has taken another ill turn with an enormous buildup of U.S. military forces in the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea.
In recent weeks warships and bombers have moved in, ostensibly to put pressure on Iran to cut a deal with the U.S. over its nuclear enrichment program. President Donald Trump has said he will order a military strike on Iran unless it makes a deal. The prospect of war between the two countries, which have been at odds for 47 years, is alarmingly high.
These charts show that the U.S. has Iran surrounded. Once again, the Persian Gulf is an arena for a war in the Middle East, possibly as consequential as the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003.
What has the U.S. mobilized?
Most notable are the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, three guided-missile destroyers and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest warship in the world.
Leaving aside the recently arrived military assets, the United States has a heavy and permanent military presence in the Middle East. The Al Udeid air base in Qatar is home to several thousand U.S. military personnel and critical to previous air campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain and polices more than two million square miles of this part of the world.
U.S. base hosting aircraft
Other U.S. base / outpost
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan
At least 24 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets,
four EA-18G Growlers
and five MQ-9 Reaper drones
Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Bahrain
Three Littoralcombat ships
Naval Support Activity, Bahrain
Base of U.S. 5th Fleet
Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE
Reconnaissance aircraft and UAVs
Al Udeid Air Base Qatar:
Largest U.S. base in Middle East. Squadron
of RAF Typhoons deployed by Britain
Sources: graphic news; U.S. Central Command; Council
on Foreign Relations; The Maritime Executive
U.S. base hosting aircraft
Other U.S. base / outpost
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan
At least 24 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets,
four EA-18G Growlers
and five MQ-9 Reaper drones
Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Bahrain
Three Littoralcombat ships
Naval Support Activity, Bahrain
Base of U.S. 5th Fleet
Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE
Reconnaissance aircraft and UAVs
Al Udeid Air Base Qatar:
Largest U.S. base in Middle East. Squadron
of RAF Typhoons deployed by Britain
Sources: graphic news; U.S. Central Command; Council
on Foreign Relations; The Maritime Executive
Khalifa Bin Salman Port,
Bahrain: Three Littoral
combat ships
Al Dhafra Air Base,
UAE: Reconnaissance
aircraft and UAVs
Muwaffaq Salti
Air Base, Jordan: At least
24 F-15E Strike Eagle fighter
jets, four EA-18G Growlers and
five MQ-9 Reaper drones
Naval Support
Activity, Bahrain:
Base of U.S.
5th Fleet
Al Udeid Air Base,
Qatar: Largest U.S. base
in Middle East. Squadron
of RAF Typhoons deployed
by Britain
U.S. base hosting aircraft
Other U.S. base / outpost
Duqm:
Logistics
hub
for aircraft
carrier
Sources: graphic news; U.S. Central Command; Council on Foreign Relations; The Maritime Executive
U.S. aircraft last attacked Iran in June when they hit the Fordow nuclear complex and two other installations, claiming they ‘obliterated’ Tehran’s capacity to make an atomic bomb.
Maxar Technologies via Reuters
What are Iran’s capabilities in the air?
Iran is likely to rely on its missiles, the most powerful of which have a range of 2,000 kilometres – enough to reach Europe. Iran does not have missiles capable of hitting the United States.
Iran’s air defence systems are located in the north, west and southern regions. They were weakened during the 12-day war last summer to the extent that U.S. and Israeli forces penetrated Iranian airspace and U.S. bombers hit its nuclear sites.
Long-range air defence coverage
NOTE: Only standard and fixed sites shown.
the globe and mail, Source: U.S. Defense intelligence
agency, ‘Iran military power’ 2019
Long-range air defence coverage
NOTE: Only standard and fixed sites shown.
the globe and mail, Source: U.S. Defense intelligence
agency, ‘Iran military power’ 2019
Long-range air defence coverage
NOTE: Only standard and fixed sites shown.
the globe and mail, Source: U.S. Defense intelligence agency, ‘Iran military power’ 2019
U.S. and Israeli forces targeted Iranian missile sites last summer, and satellite images give some idea of how Iran rebuilt them since. This base in Qom had a damaged roof on July 16, 2025, at top, but a new roof this past Feb. 1.
Planet Labs PBC via Reuters
When Tehran marked the anniversary of its 1979 revolution this month, the regime rolled out Iranian-made ballistic missiles for the public to look at. Iran has an array of short- and long-range weapons to choose from.
Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
Iran’s shorter-range missiles are capable of striking Israel and Qatar, where America’s Al Udeid base is located. Both Qatar and Israel were hit last summer during the 12-day war.
Selected Iranian
ballistic missiles
Fateh-110 SRBM
(and variants)
Note: This chart does not include all systems in development.
All ranges are approximate.
the globe and mail, Source: U.S. Defense intelligence
agency, ‘Iran military power’ 2019; graphic news
Selected Iranian
ballistic missiles
Fateh-110 SRBM
(and variants)
Note: This chart does not include all systems in development.
All ranges are approximate.
the globe and mail, Source: U.S. Defense intelligence
agency, ‘Iran military power’ 2019; graphic news
Selected Iranian ballistic missiles
Fateh-110 SRBM
(and variants)
Note: This chart does not include all systems in development. All ranges are approximate.
the globe and mail, Source: U.S. Defense intelligence agency,’Iran military power’ 2019;
graphic news
What are Iran’s forces?
Iran’s armed forces are split in two. The more significant is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is tasked with protecting the ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has oversight over Iran’s missile program and controls the Basij militia, which it uses to suppress protest. The IRGC reports directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Open this photo in gallery:
The IRGC’s dead former commander, Qassem Soleimani, got pride of place in this month’s commemorations of the anniversary of the Iranian revolution. Mr. Soleimani died in a 2020 air strike ordered by the U.S. President.Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
Graphics by John Sopinski and Murat Yükselir
