The United States and Israel are preparing for the possibility of renewed military strikes against Iran after the November 3 US midterm elections. However, President Donald Trump has not publicly confirmed a final decision to resume a major military campaign.
The plans come amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and stalled diplomatic efforts. They also raise questions about whether further attacks would bring Tehran back to negotiations or trigger a wider regional confrontation.
US and Israel prepare for possible renewed attacks
The US and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for potential new strikes in the weeks after the midterm elections, ABC News reported on October 22, citing two Israeli sources familiar with the discussions.
The sources said the plans include possible attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and petrochemical infrastructure. They also described renewed military action as a decision that rests with Trump.
The White House said the United States would not attack Iran before the November 3 elections. A spokesperson added that Trump keeps all options open to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the reported plans. US Central Command has also said it does not discuss specific movements of military personnel or equipment for operational security reasons.
The reports point to preparations for a possible escalation, but they do not establish that an attack will take place.
Military pressure and the nuclear dispute
Washington has repeatedly argued that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, while the status of its damaged nuclear facilities and enriched uranium stockpile remains a central international concern.
On October 27, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, told the UN Security Council that the agency had found no evidence that Iran had tried to repair or reconstruct facilities damaged in earlier US and Israeli strikes. However, inspectors have been unable to verify the status of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile because they lack access to the affected sites.
The IAEA’s limited access leaves important questions unresolved. It does not, by itself, establish whether Iran has abandoned its nuclear activities or what material remains at the damaged facilities.
The United States has also increased its military presence in the region. The Associated Press reported earlier in October that about 9,000 additional sailors and Marines were heading to the Middle East aboard a carrier strike group and amphibious ships, potentially bringing the number of US aircraft carriers in the region to three.
That deployment gives Washington more military options as Trump weighs his next move.
Could new strikes trigger a wider conflict?
A new round of US or Israeli attacks could target Iran’s military capabilities and put further pressure on its government. But it could also prompt retaliation against US forces, Israel or other countries in the region.
The risks extend beyond the battlefield. A wider confrontation could disrupt energy supplies, unsettle oil markets and make diplomatic efforts harder to revive.
Trump has linked the timing of possible further attacks to the midterm elections, while leaving open the possibility of a negotiated outcome. The administration has not announced a final decision on whether to resume large-scale strikes.
For now, the reported plans show that military action remains an option. Whether it becomes reality will depend on Trump’s decision, developments in the nuclear dispute and the prospects for diplomacy.
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