Pentagon Drafts Options for Striking Iran, Trump Rules Out Attack Before Midterms

The U.S. Department of Defense, known as the Pentagon, has prepared military options for potential strikes against Iran, including a concentrated three-day offensive, according to U.S. officials cited by The New York Times. President Donald Trump, however, stated that the United States will not attack Iran before the upcoming midterm elections. The newspaper reported that the national security team and the Pentagon had previously presented Trump with five proposals for major military operations against Iran or the Houthis in Yemen, all of which he rejected. Trump has recently reiterated directives to prepare military options for striking Iran. These options were discussed by senior national security officials, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, in a meeting last week at Camp David. The plans reportedly focus on a short, intense military campaign targeting Iran's missile and drone arsenal, parts of which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has rebuilt after wartime damage. Potential targets could also include energy facilities, command centers, and IRGC headquarters. In parallel, three U.S. aircraft carriers are expected to arrive in the Middle East soon as part of an increased U.S. military presence, a development also noted by the Axios news site. Trump announced on his Truth Social platform on Thursday evening that the U.S. would not launch an attack on Iran before the American midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, 2026. The U.S. elections follow Israel's parliamentary elections by one week, set for October 27, 2026, to elect the 26th Knesset.