Experts predict that the deployment of US assets to the Mideast will aid Israel but will not change Iran's stance on retaliation.

Experts question the impact of U.S. assets in the region on Iran's decision to reconsider attacking Israel in retaliation for the alleged assassination of a high-ranking Hamas leader.

Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated that after months of observing the U.S. Navy's presence in the region without responding to Iranian escalations, Tehran is unlikely to be swayed by the threat of American reprisals.

"Khamenei views a glorified military parade as more credible than a military threat, and this perception will persist until proven wrong, according to Goldberg. It is not sustainable in the long run to be held hostage to Iran and its terror proxies."

To restore deterrence, it is necessary to reinstate sanctions and show a readiness to engage in military action, he stated.

Goldberg stated that the only alternative to the current situation is to surrender to a nuclear-armed, maniacal, and terror-sponsoring regime, which would result in a catastrophic outcome not only for the Middle East but also for U.S. national security as a whole.

On Thursday, Israeli media reported that Iran may abandon its plans to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which Iranian officials have attributed to Israel. However, it was later determined that Haniyeh died not from a missile strike but from a bomb planted in his room, according to The Times of Israel.

Washington has urged countries to convey to Iran that it is not in their interest to launch another attack on Israel following Haniyeh's death, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

A U.S. official last week denied reports that 12 warships had been deployed to the region due to escalating tensions following the assassinations. The official stated that no official tasking had been given to the vessels, which were already in the Middle East. The ships remain spread out, with some even in ports or conducting routine operations, and none of the vessels are near any locations of interest.

James Carafano, an E.W. Richardson fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a 25-year Army veteran, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that any asset deployments would only take place alongside back-channel discussions. However, he believed that the impact of these discussions on Iran's decision-making would be minimal.

"American diplomacy is ineffective, according to Carafano, as it often fails to influence Iranian behavior despite being communicated publicly."

Israel's "surgical, strategic, and proportional strike" capability, Lebanon's chaotic domestic situation, and the potential for growing political protests to spread to other parts of the world and impact Iran are three things that could be at play.

"The Iranians face a significant risk due to the spread of green revolutions, as seen in Venezuela and the Arab Spring, according to Carafano."

The U.S. has already deployed every capacity to reach any target in the Middle East, and the recent deployment of F-22s only adds to its robust presence in the region, according to Carafano.

"Carafano stated that we have deployed a substantial amount of military power with deep-strike capability to the region, emphasizing its significance."

On Thursday, F-22 Raptors were deployed by the Air Force as part of U.S. force posture changes in the region and to address threats posed by Iran and Iranian-backed groups, according to a post by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on social media platform X.

A week prior to the deployment, CENTCOM had announced the use of raptors to prevent an attack on Israel by Iran.

Goldberg acknowledged that the U.S. has shifted some assets in the region, but he disagreed that there has been a recent surge that would have changed Tehran's thinking.

Goldberg stated that the idea of surging within the past week is more of a press release than reality. The Lincoln made a weekend port call in Guam and is unlikely to be on station before an Iranian attack happens.

"The U.S. Navy has already increased its forces in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden due to ongoing Houthi attacks on maritime shipping, and the ships currently deployed are the ones that would be most effective in defending against an Iranian missile strike."

Matt Mcinnis, a senior fellow at the Institute for the Study of War and a former intelligence officer, concurred that the weapons used were likely used to support other diplomatic efforts aimed at persuading Iran to alter its course and prevent a major escalation. Iran's neighbors have been putting pressure on Tehran for the past week to prevent a full-scale war with Israel.

According to McInnis, the additional forces are supporting diplomatic efforts to reduce the risk of potential Iranian actions against Israel. However, he believes that their impact is not in sync with other diplomatic efforts currently underway.

"He stated that it is challenging to move forces back into the Middle East, but given the available resources, they are making the best decisions possible in the current situation."