U.S. Military Buildup in the Persian Gulf Continues to Increase

What Happened?

As the U.S. and Iran hold talks in Geneva, American military forces have continued a recent buildup near the Persian Gulf.

The Department of Defense announced the repositioning of several naval and air assets to the Persian Gulf region, including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford. Iran has responded by holding military drills in the Persian Gulf, and partially closing the Straits of Hormuz, a key waterway for international shipping.

While both the Iranian and American governments have indicated progress is being made in Geneva, both have also increased military activity in the Persian Gulf. 

Why it Matters

The diplomatic discussions in Geneva center on a new nuclear deal for Iran, but at the same time, the Trump Administration has made several public statements indicating it would like to see the current regime in Iran fall.

Widespread protests grew into a popular uprising in Iran, but the ruling regime in Tehran has managed to stay in power through brute force. Growing military activities by the U.S. and Iran in the Persian Gulf have increased the chances of an incident, which could trigger a new round of conflict.

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U.S. officials have hinted that American military forces are preparing for extended combat operations against Iran, and the repositioning of air and naval assets to locations nearer to the Persian Gulf could be preparations for such action.

The show of force could also be a bargaining tactic by the Trump Administration to try to intimidate Iran into making more concessions in Geneva, but since U.S. forces attacked Iran’s nuclear program in 2025, threats of future military action must be taken seriously.

Iran has also increased military activity off its coast, holding a series of military drills and for the first time since the 1980s, Iranian leaders have closed a portion of the Straits of Hormuz.

The Straits of Hormuz are a key waterway for commercial shipping and international trade, and its closure demonstrates the seriousness of the current situation. With more U.S. and Iranian military forces in closer proximity, the chances for an incident, intentional or unintentional, have grown in the past two weeks.

The more aggressive military postures are likely to serve political purposes for both sides. For Iran, ramped up military activity in the Persian Gulf is a way to demonstrate the current regime in Tehran is still firmly in control, and for the U.S., additional military assets provide both leverage for negotiations and an alternative if negotiations fail. 

How it Affects You

The potential for the current tensions between Iran and the U.S. to escalate into a new round of armed conflict is real. Such a conflict would likely include the targeting of U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East by Iranian missiles and a much longer campaign of airstrikes against Iran by the U.S. military. A breakthrough agreement in Geneva could also head off potential hostilities.

*Disclaimer: Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (“EnergyX”) has engaged Shortlysts to publish this communication in connection with EnergyX’s ongoing Regulation A offering. Shortlysts has been paid in cash and may receive additional compensation. Shortlysts and/or its affiliates do not currently hold securities of EnergyX. This compensation and any current or future ownership interest could create a conflict of interest. Please consider this disclosure alongside EnergyX’s offering materials. EnergyX’s Regulation A offering has been qualified by the SEC. Offers and sales may be made only by means of the qualified offering circular. Before investing, carefully review the offering circular, including the risk factors. The offering circular is available at invest.energyx.com/.