The United States and Israel have developed plans for renewed military strikes against Iran after the US midterm elections on November 3, according to reports citing American officials and people familiar with the discussions.
The preparations come as Washington continues to pressure Tehran over its nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran warns that any new attack would trigger a broader regional response.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the US and Israeli militaries were preparing for a short but intensive operation that could last approximately three days. Potential targets include Iran’s nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and missile and drone arsenals.
Military preparations have reportedly intensified, with aircraft flying over Iraq to practise strike manoeuvres. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel this week to discuss the possibility of renewed attacks, according to US officials cited by the newspaper.
The reported plans could include a strike on Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried Iranian nuclear-related site. Other reports have suggested that power plants and additional infrastructure could be considered, although accounts differ over the precise targets and scope of any operation.
Some US officials believe another major round of attacks could inflict enough economic damage to force Tehran to make diplomatic concessions. Certain planners reportedly consider a three-day campaign sufficient to alter Iran’s negotiating position.
However, the plans remain unapproved, and it is unclear whether Trump will authorise military action after the elections.
Trump says something will happen soon
Trump has repeatedly resisted proposals to resume major combat operations against Iran, including an operation that US and Israeli military officials reportedly considered nearly ready earlier this month.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said the United States was not negotiating with Iran and suggested that developments could follow soon.
“We are not negotiating with” Iran, Trump said, adding that “something one way or another will happen, fairly soon.”
He also remarked that most people appeared to expect developments after the elections, without specifying which elections he meant in that particular statement.
Earlier this month, Trump had said the United States would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections because the two sides were engaged in “productive talks”. He also said the US naval blockade would remain fully in effect.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly reiterated that position, according to Al Jazeera, saying Washington would not attack Iran before the midterms. A White House official separately told The New York Times that the administration would not comment on military plans “that may or may not exist”, adding that Trump was keeping all options open to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Why proposed operation could take place after vote
The reported timing reflects both military preparations and political considerations.
According to The New York Times, the United States is assembling a substantial military force that includes three aircraft carriers, thousands of Marines, fighter jets and special operations forces. The force is expected to be fully positioned by early November.
The newspaper also reported that longer periods of darkness over Iran could make the timing more suitable for an operation, as the US military reportedly prefers to conduct attacks at night.
Trump’s earlier pledge not to strike before the US elections is another factor. Officials told the newspaper that the president had repeatedly rejected plans for a return to major combat, most recently this month when US and Israeli forces were reportedly close to launching an operation.
Israeli domestic politics could also affect the calculations. Israel’s October 27 election could complicate the situation if Netanyahu loses, as he would then serve as a caretaker prime minister and could face greater difficulty launching a war, according to the report.
The Financial Times separately reported that Netanyahu had pushed for a large-scale offensive during the weekend of October 10, with plans reportedly involving several days of bombing. The report said Trump opposed resuming hostilities before the US midterms.
However, The Jerusalem Post, citing Israeli military sources, disputed the suggestion that Israel had been on the verge of launching an attack on October 10. Those sources said the Israel Defense Forces had not received the kind of orders normally issued ahead of a major operation.
The Post also reported speculation that the leak about a possible attack could have been intended to influence Israeli electoral politics by portraying Netanyahu as ready to strike Iran but prevented from doing so by Trump. These claims about the timing and purpose of the reported plans remain disputed.
Iran threatens wider retaliation against regional targets
Iranian officials have warned that any renewed US-Israeli attack would prompt a response extending beyond commercial shipping and energy infrastructure.
According to the reports, Tehran has threatened to target data centres and undersea internet cables, potentially expanding the conflict into communications infrastructure and other strategic assets across the region.
Iranian officials have also rejected suggestions that another round of fighting would be quick or limited. Their warnings raise the prospect of further disruption to regional security, global energy supplies and international communications.
The conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments.
The initial rounds of US-Israeli strikes between February and April drove up energy prices and inflation worldwide, weakened regional security and severely strained the Pentagon’s supply of missile interceptors. Analysts have questioned whether renewed attacks would achieve better results while avoiding similar economic and military costs.
Some US officials reportedly believe that strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure could push its economy to the brink. Other planners, however, face the challenge of weighing potential military gains against the risk of wider retaliation and further pressure on global fuel prices.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled
While military preparations continue, diplomatic efforts are still under way, with Washington reportedly using the prospect of renewed attacks as leverage in negotiations with Tehran.
A memorandum of understanding reached in June following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar has since stalled amid disagreements over nuclear issues and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States is pressing Iran to make progress on its nuclear programme, while Tehran wants to prioritise ending the war, lifting the blockade and reopening the strategic waterway. Iranian negotiators have so far been unwilling to make concessions on the nuclear issue, insisting that it should be addressed later in the talks.
Iran has maintained that its enriched nuclear material will remain on its territory. The reports said Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei conveyed that position indirectly to the US.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, but Washington and Tehran have not publicly announced an agreement on the outstanding nuclear and maritime disputes.
Israeli military exercises add to uncertainty
Fox News reported on Tuesday that Israeli fighter jets flew eastward over Syria and Iraq during an overnight exercise between Monday and Tuesday. Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst reported the movements, while Middle East Eye, citing local sources, also reported sightings of Israeli aircraft over southern Syria and Iraq’s Muthanna Governorate.
The reported exercises have added to speculation about possible military action, although they do not establish that an attack has been authorised or is imminent.
The reports also contain conflicting accounts of the preparations for an earlier October operation. While some sources have described a planned offensive that Trump opposed, Israeli military sources cited by The Jerusalem Post have disputed that Israel was about to launch an attack at that time.
For now, the United States and Israel are reported to be preparing options for renewed strikes, but the final decision rests with political leaders. The November 3 US midterm elections, the readiness of American forces, Iran’s threatened retaliation and the continuing dispute over nuclear concessions could all shape what happens next.
