The U. S. Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for American military operations in the Middle East, has asked the Pentagon to deploy additional teams of military intelligence officers. The request was reported by Politico.

According to the publication, the additional personnel are intended to reinforce the command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and support ongoing military operations against Iran for at least 100 days, potentially extending the mission through September 2026.

At the same time, the U. S. State Department is expanding its presence in Athens, sending extra staff to assist American citizens. The department has effectively taken charge of the evacuation effort-tasks that are usually handled by consular officials and administrative personnel.

Politico’s analysts note that the Pentagon’s urgent move to increase intelligence resources, along with the allocation of additional personnel for the evacuation of U.S. citizens, suggests that the White House administration was not prepared for a prolonged military confrontation.

Earlier, U. S. President Donald Trump had stated that the operation against Iran was expected to last only four to five weeks.

On February 28, Israeli and U.S. forces carried out strikes on Iranian territory. Iran responded with attacks targeting Israel and American military bases in Persian Gulf countries.

On March 3, Trump said the United States possesses the resources necessary to wage what he described as an «eternal war», adding that the time for negotiations with Tehran had already passed.

Officials in Tehran, for their part, have declared their readiness to confront Washington and Tel Aviv for as long as necessary. According to Iranian sources, more than 500 American servicemen have already been killed during the confrontation.