WASHINGTON —The US military is preparing options to restart major combat operations against Iran, even as President Donald Trump continues to say Washington will not launch an attack before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, the New York Times reported on Thursday.
Three aircraft carriers will soon be in the Middle East, a massive assembly of force, and the Pentagon, on Trump’s orders, has developed plans to strike Iran’s drone and missile arsenal, energy facilities and other military sites, the NYT reported, citing US officials.
Senior national security officials, led by Vice President JD Vance, discussed the plans at Camp David last Friday, with the options centering on a short, intensive campaign lasting about three days, according to people briefed on the proposal.
The strikes would focus on Iran’s missile and drone arsenal, much of which has been rebuilt by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since the early phase of the war, the newspaper said.
Other potential targets include Iranian energy facilities as well as IRGC command posts and headquarters.
Axios separately reported that the Pentagon ordered the US Central Command (CENTCOM) several days ago to complete preparations for a possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran.
The directive did not set a date for strikes and Trump had not made a final decision, Axios said, adding that any renewed major combat operations were expected to include large-scale bombing of Iranian energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets.
But Trump has repeatedly decided not to relaunch heavy combat operations against Iran. And the US military response to Iran has been more muted in recent weeks, despite Iran’s escalating attacks on oil tankers.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump said that he would not attack Iran before the midterm elections, while pointing to ongoing diplomatic efforts.
In recent months, officials said, Trump’s national security team and the Pentagon have made five proposals to him for major operations against either Iran or the Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia based in Yemen. Each time, Trump vetoed the plans.
Since September, the time of the last significant exchange of retaliatory attacks, Iran has struck at least 13 ships, according to a monitoring group run by the British Navy. Intelligence reports have put the number higher, at nearly 20, according to people briefed on the information. None of those attacks generated a major U.S. response.
While oil exports from the Middle East are up, Iran’s increased attacks have spooked shippers and raised questions about future energy shipments.
Source: Saudi Gazette