Washington: Former CIA officer John Kiriakou claimed on Sunday that the United States has reached a final decision to launch military strikes against Iran as early as Monday or Tuesday, despite public calls for a diplomatic resolution.

Speaking on the Julian Dorey Podcast, Kiriakou cited a former intelligence colleague who had recently been at the White House. He alleged that the 10-day ultimatum issued by President Donald Trump on Saturday for Tehran to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs may be a tactical ruse.

"I have a friend, former CIA officer, who was at the White House this morning talking to his friends, and he says that a decision has been made to attack Iran on Monday or Tuesday," Kiriakou said. He added that the administration has a history of using deadlines to keep adversaries "off balance," often striking well before the public window expires.

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Strategic Troop Realignments

The claims coincide with reports of significant U.S. military movements across the Middle East. The New York Times reported that hundreds of service members have been quietly transferred from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Similar shifts have been documented at U.S. facilities in Bahrain, home to the Navy’s 5th Fleet, as well as in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Officials are reportedly concerned that the 30,000 to 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in the region could be immediate targets for Iranian retaliation. Unlike a June 2025 strike on Al Udeid, for which Iran provided advance notice, experts warn that a direct conflict now would be far more volatile.

In a letter to the United Nations, Iran’s mission warned that any U.S. aggression would make "all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region... legitimate targets."

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Defensive Buildup

In response to these threats, the U.S. is reportedly:

  • Deploying Air Defences: Moving additional Patriot and high-altitude defence systems into the region.
  • Carrier Repositioning: Maintaining two aircraft carrier strike groups, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford, at a distance from the Iranian coast to mitigate their vulnerability to anti-ship missiles.

Internal Political "Battle Lines"

Kiriakou described a deep ideological divide within the Trump administration regarding the escalation. He identified an "anti-war" faction comprised of Vice President J.D. Vance and Tulsi Gabbard, opposed by a pro-interventionist group led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Kiriakou also noted that the Joint Chiefs of Staff, historically a voice of caution, are reportedly aligned with the pro-strike faction. He attributed this shift to recent leadership changes. "Trump has replaced all of the Joint Chiefs this year... He promoted people that he knew would be politically loyal," Kiriakou remarked.

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Distraction Tactics

The former officer also suggested that the administration’s recent talk of declassifying UFO-related documents might be timed to divert public attention from the impending conflict. "Probably in part, yeah," he said regarding the timing of the disclosures. "About them saying they're going to release the UFO files last night... but the timing."

While the White House maintains it is seeking a deal to end Iran's support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, insiders suggest the President has recently weighed the possibility of regime change as a permanent solution to the standoff.

With inputs from AFP