Report: US and Israel Plan New Strikes on Iran After Midterm Elections

The United States and Israel are working on a plan for fresh strikes on Iran, the US newspaper The New York Times reports, citing its sources. The military action is reportedly due to resume after the US Congress midterm elections scheduled for 3 November. It would continue earlier strikes in a region where the situation is already tense.

Talks on resuming the campaign

According to the paper, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in mid-October to discuss restarting the active military campaign. The possible targets named are Iran's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone depots.

Several US officials believe a new round of strikes would push Iran's economy to the brink of collapse and force Tehran to make concessions in diplomatic talks.

Analysts voice doubts

At the same time, analysts point out that the earlier strikes failed to achieve the campaign's goals. They triggered a sharp rise in global energy prices, destabilised the Middle East and drained US missile stockpiles.

Trump has not yet given the go-ahead

It is not yet clear whether US President Donald Trump will agree to resume the attacks. He previously declined to approve expanding the operation, even when US and Israeli forces were already ready to carry out air strikes.

The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Netanyahu was already prepared to launch new strikes. According to its sources, Israel had planned to resume bombing on 10 October, but Trump did not want to escalate the situation ahead of the midterm elections.