The Pentagon instructed U.S. Central Command several days ago to complete preparations for a possible resumption of large-scale military operations against Iran, Axios reported Wednesday, citing U.S. officials.
The report said the directive did not set a specific date for launching strikes, and U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision. However, U.S. and Israeli sources believe such action could take place before the U.S. midterm elections, and possibly before the Israeli elections, which are scheduled one week earlier.
According to the sources, any resumption of major military operations would likely involve intensive strikes against Iranian targets linked to the energy sector, infrastructure and nuclear program.
A Pentagon official said the U.S. Department of War’s role is to prepare and present military options to the president, while a White House official said all options remain available to Trump at any time.
“The United States is in a very strong position. It controls the Strait of Hormuz while Iran’s economy is collapsing,” the White House official said. “Iran has been hit very hard, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way.” The official added that the president has “all the cards.”
Axios reported that if major military operations resume, they are likely to be carried out through joint U.S.-Israeli coordination, with active participation by the Israeli military.
An Israeli official said discussion about the possibility of renewed major military operations against Iran was increasing. The official added that the chances of renewed operations before the U.S. congressional midterm elections were not high, but could rise significantly afterward.
Two Israeli officials said the Iranian leadership was experiencing a state of desperation and heightened security concerns, which could prompt Tehran to launch a preemptive strike.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran have made no progress, with Qatari mediators still awaiting an Iranian response to a U.S. counterproposal that includes demands for nuclear concessions.
According to Axios, renewed escalation, or even a rise in tensions or declaration of a state of emergency, could benefit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically by shielding him from attacks by his opponents during the crucial final stage of the election campaign.
Trump said the conflict with Iran would “end soon one way or another,” predicting that the war would end quickly and oil prices would fall.
Trump also said Iran was in a difficult position and “will never have a nuclear weapon,” adding that the United States had achieved victory in the war in terms of preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
The remarks come as Washington continues to insist on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while disagreements remain over Tehran’s uranium enrichment program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country was determined to defend itself and remained serious about diplomacy in a way that safeguards its interests and national security.
Tehran continues to insist on its right to enrich uranium, while Washington is demanding a “substantial” reduction in Iran’s enrichment capacity, according to U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
On the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran had “completely lost control” of the strait, noting that oil flows through the waterway had approached pre-war levels.
Tehran rejected the claim. Hussein Taeb, a commander in Iran’s Basij forces, said the Strait of Hormuz “was and will remain Iranian” and that the United States could not impose its will over the waterway.
Alongside military pressure, Washington has expanded sanctions targeting Iran’s economy, including sectors, companies and supply chains, in an effort to increase pressure on Tehran.
The war continues to weigh on energy markets, while Trump has linked the end of the conflict to lower oil prices.
The war began after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, followed by Iranian strikes, amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Axios
