US and Israel have prepared plans for new strikes on Iran after the elections - NYT
US and Israeli military command has developed plans for a new large-scale operation against Iran, which could be conducted after the midterm elections to the American Congress on November 3. Among the potential targets are energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and enterprises of Iran's military-industrial complex.
The New York Times reports this, citing American officials and other interlocutors familiar with the preparation of possible strikes.
According to the publication, the military is considering a short but intense operation that would inflict significant economic and military losses on Iran. One of the proposed scenarios involves approximately three days of massive attacks.
Washington hopes that additional military pressure could force Tehran to agree to concessions on the nuclear program and the shipping regime through the Strait of Hormuz. However, some American experts doubt that a new operation would change the position of the Iranian leadership.
Preparation for possible strikes is already accompanied by military exercises. According to the NYT, US and Israeli forces are practicing scenarios of combat operations, including flights over Iraq. This week, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, Axios reported that on October 19, dozens of Israeli fighter jets and tanker aircraft conducted a long training flight to the Iranian border. According to the publication's sources, the maneuver was intended to demonstrate Israel's military capabilities. The American side was warned about the exercise in advance.
Despite active preparation, US President Donald Trump has not yet authorized a new operation. In recent months, he has repeatedly rejected military proposals to resume large-scale combat actions against Iran.
Moreover, on October 8, the American president publicly promised that the US would not attack Iran before the midterm elections to Congress scheduled for November 3. At the same time, his statement did not exclude the possibility of resuming strikes after the vote.
Already on October 22, Trump told journalists that negotiations with Iran are not currently underway, but certain developments in the standoff may occur soon. He also noted that many expect changes precisely after the American elections.
The White House told the NYT that it does not comment on possible military plans. The administration, at the same time, emphasized that the president retains all options to prevent Iran from creating nuclear weapons.
A new escalation could have serious consequences for the world oil market. Iran has already warned that if American and Israeli strikes resume, the response could extend to a wider range of targets than before. Among the potential targets, Tehran names energy infrastructure of countries in the region, data centers, and underwater internet cables.
A separate risk remains possible attacks on oil refineries in Saudi Arabia. Such strikes could disrupt supplies of petroleum products and cause a new increase in energy prices.
It is the possibility of rising fuel prices, according to the NYT, that remains one of the factors restraining Trump from approving a large-scale operation. Some American officials advocate excluding Iran's oil infrastructure from the list of targets to avoid provoking an additional price spike.
At the same time, even strikes on purely military targets could trigger Iranian retaliatory attacks and new disruptions to shipping in the Persian Gulf. This creates risks for oil prices, tanker insurance, maritime transport, and global inflation.
The situation will also be influenced by parliamentary elections in Israel on October 27. Their results may change the political conditions for conducting a joint operation.
Thus, the US and Israel are intensifying preparations for a possible resumption of major strikes on Iran, but the question of starting the operation remains open. Further developments will depend primarily on Trump's decision and the course of diplomatic contacts.
Based on materials from: The New York Times, Axios, The Times of Israel
