Report: US Military Prepares Plans to Strike Iran After Midterm Elections

The US military has prepared options to launch potential attacks on Iran after the midterm elections scheduled for November 3, a move that could lead to a renewal of the military confrontation that has lasted more than eight months, amidst stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran regarding ending the war.

US website "The Hill" reported on Saturday, citing a source familiar with the plans who requested anonymity, that US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for US forces in the Middle East, has prepared plans to carry out additional strikes against Iran if it receives approval from the White House.

Another source familiar with military planning said that CENTCOM has prepared several options for launching attacks on Iran to present to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, noting that President Donald Trump will keep all options open until a final decision is made.

The war on Iran erupted last February 28 when the United States and Israel launched wide-ranging attacks targeting prominent Iranian leaders and vital military facilities, resulting in the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Attack Options and Potential Targets

Gregory Bruce, an expert on Iranian affairs at the Eurasia Group, believes the likelihood of the US resuming its military strikes against Iran after the end of the midterm elections is "very high."

For his part, Harrison Mann, a former executive at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Regional Center for the Middle East and Africa, stated that Trump faces two possible paths for escalation if he decides to attack Iran.

He explained that the first path involves resuming strikes against military and political targets inside Iranian territory, while the second path includes targeting civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, especially if Israeli forces participate in the operations.

Harrison Mann said that since April, the United States has primarily targeted sites along the Iranian coast and has conducted airstrikes inside Iranian territory only in limited cases, perhaps not exceeding one or two strikes.

He suggested this was aimed at reducing the risks of escalation and avoiding the possibility of further US aircraft being shot down.

He added that the other path, which becomes more likely if Israel participates, may include targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, including universities and police centers, similar to Israeli attacks during the early stages of the war.

Harrison Mann noted that the two paths do not exclude each other, meaning it is possible to combine targeting military and political sites with civilian facilities in any new campaign.

In response to a request from "The Hill" for comment on military preparations, a Pentagon official said the department's mission is to "prepare military options and present them to the President."

He added: "We do not speculate about hypothetical scenarios or future operations."

Military and Economic Pressure on Tehran

The US preparations come at a time when the Trump administration seeks to extract major concessions from Iran, amidst continued stalling of diplomatic negotiations regarding ending the war.

Trump had warned of the possibility of launching new attacks on Iran after the midterm elections, at a time when the Republican Party seeks to retain its majority in both chambers of Congress.

The US administration bets that the continuation of sanctions and naval blockade, along with deteriorating economic conditions and rising inflation, will increase pressure on the Iranian leadership and push it to accept an agreement with Washington.

Bruce said the goal of using military force is to add more pressure to those already imposed on Iran, to push it to make concessions and reach an agreement that allows the United States to exit the war.

He added that one of the motivations for Washington exploring the resumption of military strikes is frustration over the lack of diplomatic progress.

He continued: "The Iranians are not backing down, nor showing any flexibility. They have held a negotiating position for several weeks."

Doubts About the Effectiveness of US Strikes

Hegseth conducted an unannounced visit to the Middle East on Monday, where he met with US troops deployed in the region, and also visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hegseth praised military cooperation with Israel in statements to journalists on Tuesday, describing it as a "good partner."

He said: "We have worked extensively with the Israeli army, and this is not new. We have been cooperating with them for a long time; they have significant capabilities, and we appreciate their contributions to ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon."

In contrast, "The Hill" cited regional analysts' skepticism about the ability of a new US-Israeli military campaign to push the Iranian leadership to make concessions, after previous operations contributed to depleting the Pentagon's stockpile of interceptor missiles and some advanced offensive systems, rising fuel prices, and turmoil in the Middle East.

Harrison Mann, a former US Army captain, said that "there is no level of US or Israeli strikes that can force Iran to change its course at this stage."

He added that Iranian leaders view the confrontation as a threat to their personal survival and the regime's survival, noting that they are increasingly realizing they possess leverage cards that can be used to extract concessions from Trump.

He continued: "I believe we have already seen, very clearly, the limits of what US and Israeli strikes can achieve. They failed to destroy Iran's military capabilities and could not eliminate the political leadership, despite the assassination of key figures."

US Military Buildup in the Middle East

During the active phase of the war, US and Israeli forces destroyed Iranian missile launch platforms and weapons depots, and damaged military facilities.

The Pentagon said last month that the US military destroyed more than 90% of Iran's ballistic missiles, alongside targeting the maritime industrial base and drone-related facilities.

Trump had previously backed off approving military strikes against Iran after the Pentagon prepared a package of targets and offensive options.

According to "The Hill," more than 50,000 US military personnel are currently stationed in the Middle East, along with approximately 20 warships, some of which are participating in enforcing the naval blockade in the Arabian Sea.

There are two carrier strike groups in the region, while a third group led by the aircraft carrier "USS Theodore Roosevelt," of the "Nimitz" class, is heading toward the US Central Command area of responsibility, potentially replacing the aircraft carrier "USS George Washington."

The Pentagon also sent about 4,000 Marines and sailors aboard three warships, led by the amphibious assault ship "USS Makin Island," of the "Wasp" class, as part of an amphibious ready group.

These reinforcements would provide the US President with additional options to conduct amphibious landings and other military operations.

Trump also hinted at the possibility of targeting Mount "Bekax," located near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, which was damaged during previous attacks, in the Zagros Mountains.

However, experts doubted the ability of US bunker-busting bombs, even the most powerful ones, to penetrate the fortified facility due to its depth, which may reach nearly 2,000 feet inside granite rock.

Intelligence Warnings of Iranian Attacks

In a parallel development, US Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned that Iran's efforts to target US officials and citizens in the Middle East and other countries have increased significantly, and some plots have reached advanced stages.

The warning came in a memo directed by Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Trump's National Security Advisor, according to "The Hill."

Clayton said in the memo: "We have received, through various channels, intelligence indicating that Iran has significantly intensified its efforts to target American individuals."

He added that "Iranian plots to carry out lethal operations against US citizens have reached advanced stages, whether in the Middle East or in some other countries."

In context, Bruce said Iranian leaders have sent public and non-public signals that Tehran's response to any new US or Israeli attacks would be "larger, more aggressive, and different" from its responses in earlier phases of the war.

Potential Iranian threats include targeting US military bases, warships, oil pipelines, and refineries, along with Washington's Gulf allies, given Tehran's retention of missile capabilities and drones.

The possibility of renewed military operations comes at a time when oil prices recorded their highest levels since May, with Brent crude exceeding $117 per barrel on Friday, while US West Texas Intermediate traded at around $102 per barrel.

Gregory Bruce, an expert on Iranian affairs at the Eurasia Group, said that officials in the region and members of the Iranian leadership explicitly indicated that submarine cables in the Gulf, AI data centers, and technological infrastructure could become targets for attacks if Iran is struck again.

US Hinting at New Strikes

In another indicator of the possibility of resuming military operations, US Ambassador to Turkey and Trump's Special Envoy to Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, pointed to the possibility of a strike against Iran over the weekend.

Barrack said in an interview with Lebanese-Australian businessman and political commentator Mario Nawfal, published on Friday, in response to a question about the possibility of an attack over the weekend: "Absolutely."

He added that Trump is clear in his stance, and is open to reaching an agreement and prepared for it, noting that the United States has spent months at the negotiating table.

But when Trump was asked on Friday about Barrack's comments, he said he knew nothing about the possibility of executing a strike over the weekend.

The US President, during a rally in Fort Myers, Florida, said he might execute another limited military operation similar to Operation "Epic Fury," or Iran might reach an agreement with Washington.

He added: "If they are smart, they will simply say: let us get to the heart of the matter," expressing doubts about the Iranian leadership's readiness to conclude an agreement.

When "The Hill" requested a comment from the White House regarding plans to strike Iran, the President's office referred the site to Trump's remarks to journalists on Friday.

Trump had said on Wednesday that the United States is not negotiating with Iran, leaving the door open for the resumption of military operations.

He added: "Something will happen, one way or another, quite soon. Most people believe it will be after the elections, and we will see what happens."

He continued: "But I will say this: what we did with Iran was amazing."