According to a Reuters report on the 13th local time, two US officials stated that the US military is preparing for a potentially weeks-long operation should President Trump order an attack on Iran. This could escalate into an unprecedented and serious conflict between the two countries. The report stated that this information disclosed by US officials puts ongoing US-Iran diplomatic efforts at greater risk. The officials indicated that the current operational planning is more complex. One official stated that in a sustained military operation, the US military could not only strike Iran's nuclear infrastructure but also its state institutions and security facilities; this official declined to provide specific details. This official also stated that the US fully anticipates Iranian retaliation, thus creating a cycle of attacks and retaliation over time. (Global Times)