US and Israel Plan Strikes on Iran Post-Midterm Elections, Reports Say

The United States and Israel have developed plans for potential strikes against Iran that would commence after the U.S. midterm elections in November, according to American officials briefed on the discussions. The New York Times reported that the strikes, expected to last approximately three days, would target Iran's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone depots. This comes amid reports of a secret meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister to discuss new strike options.

A White House official stated that the administration does not comment on potential military plans but emphasized that President Donald Trump is keeping all options open to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Some sources believe that renewed strikes could push Iran's economy toward collapse, forcing diplomatic concessions. Concurrently, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran's floating oil reserves have been depleted, making a naval blockade more impactful as Tehran struggles to continue selling oil to China. Analysts noted that these reserves, which provided Iran with billions of dollars, were exhausted by mid-October due to the U.S. blockade preventing resupply.

Iranian sources indicated that they would retaliate by targeting data centers and underwater cables, rather than solely ships and energy infrastructure. The U.S. military is set to complete its regional assessments in early November, deploying three aircraft carriers, thousands of Marines, fighter jets, and special forces. The shift to winter time in Iran, extending daylight hours, is also cited as a factor favoring a later strike window.

President Trump told reporters that the U.S. is not negotiating with Iran and that "something is going to happen" soon, adding that most people anticipate action after the elections. Earlier this month, the U.S. sent a message to Israel to increase readiness for possible action, though the reason for this alert remains unclear to Israeli defense officials. The alert level has since decreased.

Despite the heightened tensions, the Chief of Staff insists that Israel's elections will proceed on schedule and securely. Israeli defense officials stress that there is currently no development in Iran justifying immediate action, especially before an election. The primary concern in Israel is a miscalculation, where irresponsible actions or statements could lead Iran to believe an attack is imminent and act preemptively. Intelligence communities in Israel and the West have not detected Iran resuming uranium enrichment, though monitoring continues for various scenarios.

Significant discussions are ongoing in Israel regarding Iran, with a majority in security and political forums opposing an attack at this time. Meanwhile, NBC reported that the U.S. military is reducing its presence at Middle Eastern bases and the State Department is scaling back diplomatic staff in the region due to ongoing threats, including from Iran, as President Trump considers further military action. Forces have been moved from bases in Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait, and the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia will operate with an emergency team only. U.S. Central Command stated these movements are routine for readiness and not detailed for operational security.