After Venezuela Is The U.S. Poised To Invade Iran?

After Venezuela, escalating U.S. and Israeli military activity linked to Iran is raising questions over whether Washington is moving toward direct military action against Tehran.

Preparations appear to be underway for a large-scale strike involving the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the Israeli Air Force, according to regional security reporting and open-source tracking.

At least 8 U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft have reportedly arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, U.K., a hub previously used ahead of the June 2025 U.S. strikes on Iran. Similar deployments in the past were associated with the transfer of 2,000-pound GBU-31/B guided bombs and large numbers of AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, Russian Arms telegram channel wrote.

U.S. ground movements have also been reported in Iraq and Syria. An Iraqi security source said around 150 trucks carrying troops and combat equipment departed the U.S. Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq’s Al-Anbar province toward the At-Tanf air base in Syria and the Harir air base in Erbil. The movements are seen as efforts to reinforce U.S. positions amid concerns over possible retaliation by Iran-aligned armed groups following any strikes on Iranian military-industrial sites.

The military buildup coincides with reported Israeli preparations. Israel’s military cabinet has approved a new operation against Iran, dubbed “Iron Strike,” though details on its objectives, scale, and timing remain undisclosed. The approval comes as Iran experiences renewed anti-government protests, particularly in western regions, where protesters have been filmed carrying what appear to be military-grade weapons.

Political pressure has also increased. Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he would assist Iranian protesters if the unrest is suppressed by force, comments that circulated widely in regional media.

Iran has responded with visible military activity. Iran International reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched nationwide missile and air defense exercises, including launches in Tehran and Shiraz. The drills reportedly involve Sevom Khordad and Bavar-373 systems, Arman systems, and possibly Russian-made S-400 air defenses.

Amid the unrest, the Russian Arms Telegram channel reported that a Belarusian Air Force Il-76MD transport aircraft delivered large quantities of Russian and Chinese weapons to Iran. The claim has not been independently verified, and no official confirmation has been issued.

Iran swiftly condemned the U.S. attack on Venezuela, urging the United Nations to intervene and stop what it described as “unlawful aggression.”

“The U.S. military aggression against an independent state that is a member of the UN represents a grave breach of regional and international peace and security,” Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Its consequences affect the entire international system and will further expose the UN Charter-based order to erosion and destruction.”

Hours after the U.S. kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Israeli politician Yair Lapid warned Tehran, saying, “The regime in Iran should pay close attention to what is happening in Venezuela.”

“A new lawlessness makes everything less stable and war more likely,” Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), told Al Jazeera. “Whether Trump becomes enamoured with ‘surgical’ regime change, or gives Netanyahu a U.S. imprimatur for similar actions, it’s hard not to see how this gives momentum for the many actors pushing for renewed war with Iran.”

Maduro is a close ally of Iran, and the two heavily sanctioned countries have worked to deepen trade ties estimated in the billions of dollars. With Maduro gone, Iran’s already limited network of allies could shrink further, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Update: A record number of more than 30 U.S. C-17A Globemaster III strategic military transport aircraft are reportedly en route to the Middle East. Also confirmed are three AC-130J Ghostrider close air support aircraft, four P-8A Poseidon long-range anti-submarine warfare/electronic reconnaissance aircraft equipped with AN/APS-154 AAS radars, four KC-135R air tankers, three CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, five MH-60S multirole helicopters, and an unknown number of other aircraft not included in the list.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Prepares to Flee Iran as Protests Spread Nationwide

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has prepared a contingency plan to flee the country if nationwide protests overwhelm security forces, according to an intelligence assessment shared with The Times.

The report says Khamenei, 86, would leave Tehran with fewer than 20 people, including close aides and family members, among them his son Mojtaba, widely seen as his preferred successor. Preparations reportedly include securing overseas assets, properties and liquid cash. Khamenei controls extensive wealth through opaque foundations such as Setad, previously estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars, while many senior figures already have relatives living abroad.

Protests have continued for an eighth day, spreading to at least 222 locations across 78 cities in 26 provinces, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. At least 20 people have been killed, including one security force member, and dozens injured. What began as labor strikes and economic protests has escalated into calls for regime change.

The protests are fuelled by economic strain, with inflation near 40%, a weakened currency and rising living costs, worsened by a recent increase in subsidized fuel prices.