The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has dismissed Israeli media reports claiming that Washington is preparing to resume military operations against Iran, describing allegations of changes to US military deployments in the Middle East as "pure speculation."

Responding to Türkiye's Anadolu Agency on Friday, a CENTCOM official said there had been no changes to the US military's force posture in the region, contradicting claims aired by Israeli public broadcaster KAN that the United States had urged Israel to prepare for a possible new military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

KAN had reported, citing an unnamed US official, that CENTCOM conveyed the warning to Israeli military representatives in the United States, urging them to prepare for a possible resumption of military operations against Iran in the near future. The broadcaster also claimed that Washington was sending similar messages to Gulf countries through security channels.

The Israeli broadcaster further alleged that approximately 200 US aerial refuelling aircraft had been deployed across the Middle East and Europe, while the aircraft carriers USS George Washington and USS George H.W. Bush were already operating in the region. It also claimed that the USS Roosevelt was expected to arrive in the Arabian Sea the following week.

However, the claims have not been independently verified, and CENTCOM's response offered no confirmation of the reported deployment figures.

The latest developments come amid heightened tensions following months of confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Despite diplomatic efforts to prevent a renewed escalation, military threats and competing security demands continue to undermine prospects for a lasting settlement.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any renewed US or Israeli aggression would trigger a decisive response. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warned that any direct or indirect participation in military aggression against Iran, including through military deployments and logistical support, would carry responsibility for the consequences.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei also warned earlier this month that any renewed military or terrorist attack against the country would be met with an immediate and geographically unrestricted response.

Meanwhile, tensions escalated further on Friday after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted a US early-warning radar installation in Bahrain. Iranian state media described the operation as retaliation for an airstrike on a telecommunications tower in Sirik County, in southern Iran's Hormozgan province. Neither Washington nor Bahrain immediately commented on the reported strike.

The latest developments underscore the fragile security situation in the region, where renewed military confrontation could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability, maritime security and global energy markets. (ILKHA)