Report: Israel Planned Iran Attack This Month, Trump Blocked It

President Trump blocked the planned strikes to avoid escalating regional conflict and affecting energy prices before the U.S. midterm elections on November 3. Trump publicly stated that the U.S. would not attack Iran before the elections and noted that productive conversations with Tehran were ongoing. Washington also feared that an escalation could trigger a massive Iranian missile response against Israel.

Despite the postponement, both Netanyahu and Trump have continued to threaten military action, and sources suggest a joint or unilateral strike remains a real possibility in the coming weeks to pressure Iran in stalled negotiations. This week, U.S. Secretary of State Pete Hegseth met with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz in Israel, where he was presented with an updated list of Iranian targets based on new intelligence.

Meanwhile, Israel and the U.S. are monitoring increased activity at four Iranian nuclear sites amid concerns that centrifuges are being moved underground. Within Israel, the IDF has canceled troop leaves and remains on high alert ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections on October 27, though some security experts have questioned the strategic rationale of a preemptive strike and warned of severe regional consequences.