Recent U.S. military preparations center on resuming airstrikes against Iranian energy, infrastructure, and nuclear targets, with naval reinforcements including additional carrier strike groups positioned for potential action before or after the November 2026 midterms. Ongoing diplomatic efforts, including indirect talks and a prior memorandum that expired without resolution, continue alongside economic pressure from a naval blockade, though both sides signal readiness for limited escalation if talks fail. No official announcements or deployments indicate planning for a full-scale ground invasion involving occupation of Iranian territory, a step that would require congressional authorization, massive logistical commitments, and risk broader regional fallout. Trader pricing reflects this distinction between targeted strikes and the higher threshold for invasion within the narrow window to 2027.