Report: Netanyahu Planned Major Iran Attack, Trump Blocked It

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the IDF to prepare for a significant new attack in Iran, planned for early October, but the operation was halted due to opposition from US President Donald Trump. The Financial Times reported this, citing three sources familiar with the plans. According to the report, the IDF was preparing for an air campaign lasting several days, set to begin the weekend of October 10. The plan included strikes against nuclear facilities, sites linked to the Iranian regime, and civilian infrastructure such as power plants. Sources close to the matter stated that Israel intended to carry out a particularly extensive operation, but Trump objected to renewing the conflict before the US midterm elections on November 3. Israeli officials reportedly presented their American counterparts with an updated list of targets in Iran, based on new intelligence. This list also includes civilian infrastructure not targeted in previous operations. It remains unclear whether the US was intended to participate in the planned attack. Despite the operation's cancellation, the possibility of renewed strikes remains open. One source suggested that another attack could occur in the coming weeks, while another raised the possibility that the military preparations were also intended to increase pressure on Tehran in diplomatic negotiations. Deputy White House Spokesperson Anna Kelli told the newspaper that US economic and military pressure on Iran is yielding results and clarified that the US would not attack Iran before the midterm elections. The report emerges less than a week before Israeli Knesset elections, amidst ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran and threats of renewed attacks.