WASHINGTON DC: US President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on resuming major combat operations against Iran, but the Pentagon has been instructed to prepare for possible fresh strikes, Axios reported while citing US officials.
According to the report, the Pentagon instructed US Central Command (US CENTCOM) several days ago to conclude preparations for resuming major combat operations in Iran. The directive did not set a specific date for launching strikes. US and Israeli officials told Axios that renewed combat operations could take place before the US midterm elections, scheduled to be held on November 3, and possibly ahead of Israeli elections, which are expected a week earlier.
If major combat operations resume, they are expected to include extensive strikes on Iranian energy, infrastructure, and nuclear targets, Axios reported, citing sources. “The Department’s job is to develop and present military options to the President,” a Pentagon official told Axios.
A White House official said Trump has all options available at any time. “The U.S. is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way,” the official said.
“President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States,” the official added. Axios also mentioned The Atlantic’s report that Trump is weighing a strike on Iran before the US midterm elections. Axios reported that Trump’s national security team met at Camp David on Friday for several hours to discuss the war and other issues.
An Israeli official said part of the meeting focused on a possible resumption of major combat operations in Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after the meeting that it focused on “long-term” foreign policy planning. Negotiations between the US and Iran have made no progress, according to Axios.
Qatari mediators are still waiting for an Iranian response to a US counterproposal that included demands for nuclear concessions. “The discussion about possible resumption of major combat operations in Iran has increased. The chances of it happening before the elections is not high but we don’t rule it out. After the midterms the chances of it happening increase significantly,” a second Israeli official told Axios.
Trump on Wednesday spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking their second call in a few days after they had barely spoken for several weeks. A US official said Trump and Netanyahu spoke about “remembrance and respect for the victims of the October 7 massacre”.
The call came after Netanyahu held a meeting with his national security team on Iran, according to the first Israeli official cited by Axios. Netanyahu also spoke with Rubio on Monday. If major combat operations resume, they are likely to involve the US and Israel working in tandem, with the Israeli military participating, according to the report. (ANI)
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