Israel has made extensive preparations for the possibility of an escalation with Iran or the outbreak of a full-scale confrontation, although the Israeli military is not currently preparing to launch a preemptive strike against Iran, an Israeli military official told Maariv.
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The official added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled out launching a strike against Iran, noting that US positions are constantly changing. Washington at times appears to be moving toward an attack, before US President Donald Trump announces that he will not attack Iran ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November 3.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country would not abandon negotiations, noting that Tehran is reviewing proposals exchanged through mediators in preparation for finalizing them.
Pezeshkian said Iran's goal is to "end the conflict while ensuring Iran's legitimate rights under international law," as indirect contacts between Tehran and Washington continue.
Trump had announced that the United States would not launch an attack on Iran before the midterm elections, saying Washington was engaged in "productive talks" with Tehran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was in a "very bad" economic and military situation and that the blockade imposed on it was operating "at full strength and effectiveness." He also said 22 million barrels of oil had passed through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the flow of oil through the waterway as reaching record levels.
On the military front, Axios reported that US officials had briefed Israel on military preparations for potential operations against Iran, although no final decision had been made on resuming a large-scale offensive.
According to Axios, any return to fighting could involve intensive strikes targeting Iran's energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities. Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir also held talks with senior US officials regarding military preparations for a possible resumption of operations.
Axios said Zamir warned that a renewed war could lead to the postponement of Israel's elections, amid assessments that Iran would respond with missile attacks against Israel.
The Atlantic magazine reported that the White House had asked the US Defense Department to prepare options for striking targets in Iran before the midterm elections, noting that the scale and potential targets of any strikes remain under discussion.
On the diplomatic front, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country was studying US proposals and intended to provide an official response, while messages continued to be exchanged through mediators.
Araghchi said Tehran had put forward an initiative known as the "Seven-Day Plan" and had listened to the US perspective in return, stressing that the negotiating process was continuing.
Iran introduced the "Seven-Day Plan" through mediators in late September with the aim of reducing tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, paving the way for the resumption of negotiations with the United States. Washington did not agree to the plan.
Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but no agreement has yet been reached to end the confrontation.
Source: Agencies
