The New York Times reported, citing US officials, that the US military is preparing for a possible strike on Iran that could begin as early as Wednesday, the day after the congressional midterm elections. The newspaper said US Central Command (CENTCOM) had prepared a plan to be launched once three US aircraft carriers are in the region, while any attack remains subject to President Donald Trump’s approval, and he has not yet announced his decision.
A narrow window
One of the three carriers must return to its home port after early November, narrowing the window for action, while the moonless nights during this period would provide favorable conditions for US operations. The newspaper reported on October 21 that US and Israeli planners had prepared options for post-election strikes, likely targeting Iranian energy facilities, nuclear sites and missile installations.
Israeli information about “chemical weapons”
The New York Times reported that Israel had provided Washington with intelligence alleging that Iran was considering using chemical weapons against its adversaries. Some US officials expressed concern about the information, while others viewed it with deep skepticism, with some believing it was part of a pressure campaign by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to push the US administration to resume broad military operations. Iran’s ILNA news agency quoted sources close to the White House as saying that a split had emerged between a negotiating team led by Vice President J.D. Vance and a faction advocating the military option led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington had asked several Gulf countries to prepare for a “short but intense military campaign” after the elections. A Patriot air-defense battery was moved from Texas to the region, while US forces were redeployed away from bases considered vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
Tehran calls US response “unconvincing”
Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said the US response to Tehran’s demands was “unconvincing,” stressing that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until all seven Iranian conditions were met. This came after limited US strikes described by Washington as “defensive” targeted Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday. Trump played down the strikes, saying they were “just a small attack, and it wasn’t a war,” while Qatar and Oman continue their mediation efforts without a breakthrough so far.
Photos: Iran International, Fox News
