US Readies 100-Day Operation Against Iran as Pentagon Boosts Intelligence Personnel
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have reached a new peak. The United States is reported to be weighing a military operation against Iran that could last at least 100 days, or until September 2026. Politico first disclosed the report, based on internal documents from the United States Department of Defense (Pentagon).
On Wednesday (4 March 2026), US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth formally revised the operation timetable to eight weeks. The duration represents a significant increase from earlier estimates of four to five weeks.
Concrete steps have begun. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has submitted a request for additional military intelligence officers to its headquarters in Tampa, Florida. The aim is to strengthen analysis and provide enhanced data intelligence to the operation targeting Iran.
According to Politico, the resource expansion indicates that the Pentagon is preparing a budget for a protracted conflict. It also suggests the possibility that the administration underestimated the scale of resistance and the complexities on the ground.
In addition to boosting intelligence, the US is reported to be accelerating the strengthening of evacuation resources for its citizens in the region. These emergency steps imply that the Trump administration has not yet fully prepared for the fallout of a large-scale conflict with Iran that is now widening.
The prospect of a 100-day war is expected to put further pressure on global economic stability. Previously, Hormuz Strait closure had driven global oil prices up to around USD80 per barrel. If the operation continues through September, energy markets and safe-haven assets such as gold are forecast to remain highly volatile.
As of this report, the White House had not issued an official statement regarding the leak of the Pentagon’s internal documents published by Politico. Nevertheless, military activity in the Gulf region continues to show increased intensity.