Trump Threatens Iranian Bombing US B-2 Stealth Fighter Plane Shifted To Diegoo Garcia Base

JAKARTA - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ensured his side strengthened US military capabilities in the Middle East with more fighter aircraft.

The military strengthening was carried out after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran if nuclear negotiations stalled.

The Pentagon's brief statement did not specify which aircraft were deployed or where exactly the plane was delivered.

However, six B-2 bombers have been transferred in the past week to a US-UK military base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Experts say it puts B-2, which has stealth technology and is equipped to carry the most heavy US bombs and nuclear weapons, in an ideal position to operate in the Middle East.

"If Iran or its proxies threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the United States will take firm action to defend our people," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.

US military Strategic Command declined to say how many B-2s had reached Diego Garcia and stated they had not commented on the drills or operations involving B-2.

There is already considerable weapons force in the Middle East and the US military will soon have two aircraft carriers in the region.

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombings and secondary fares if Tehran did not reach an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.

Although the B-2 bomber has been used to strike the Houthi target buried in Yemen, most experts say the use of stealth bombers is excessive there and the target is not so deep buried.

However, B-2 is equipped to carry America's most powerful bomb -- GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator weighing 30,000 pounds. That's a weapon experts say can be used to attack Iran's nuclear program.

There are only 20 B-2 bombers in the Air Force inventory so they are usually rarely used.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday the US would take a heavy blow if Trump followed up on his threats.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace of the Amirali Hajizadeh Revolutionary Guards threatened US troops in the Middle East, citing American bases in the Middle East.

"They are in a greenhouse and they are not allowed to throw stones," he said.

An official told Reuters the US military had also transferred some of its air defense capabilities from Asia to the Middle East.

During his 2017-2021 term, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 deal between Iran and major world countries imposing strict restrictions on disputed Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump has also reimposed widespread US sanctions.