US Central Command said Thursday there has been no change in its force posture in the Middle East, calling Israeli reports that it told Israel and Gulf allies to prepare for an imminent resumption of war with Iran “mere speculation.” Israeli public broadcaster Kan had reported, citing a US source, that CENTCOM recently passed warnings through security channels as Washington deploys roughly 200 refueling aircraft across Europe and the Middle East and sends the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt to join the USS George Washington and USS George H.W. Bush in the region next week.

Despite the command’s denial, President Donald Trump said later Thursday that he would have “no hesitation” to strike Iran again if needed, adding “it’s possible I would do it right now” and telling Fox News that a return to full scale combat operations “could happen.” Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon also told i24NEWS that the US “is moving large numbers of troops into the region and putting its embassies on high alert.”

Earlier Thursday, Trump pulled Vice President JD Vance off Iran negotiations, declaring on Truth Social that “we don’t need a deal with Iran” because the US holds “Hundreds of Billions of Dollars” of Iranian funds and controls the Strait of Hormuz, which sent Brent crude up as much as 3% past $94 a barrel. Trump directed Vance to instead focus his “complete and total attention” on alleged crime and corruption in Democratic led states, a day after the Wall Street Journal reported Vance had been authorized to lead talks and was weighing a meeting with Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei. Rezaei had dismissed reports of talks in Qatar as “lies and fabrication intended to ease economic pressure and lower oil prices.”