Pentagon readies Iran war plans as Trump rules out preelection strikes
The Pentagon told U.S. Central Command to finish preparing for a possible return to major combat in Iran, U.S. officials told Axios. A renewed war could mean massive bombing of Iran's energy and nuclear sites and higher oil prices at home. A day later, President Trump said there would be no attack before the Nov. 3 midterms.
The U.S. military is getting ready for a possible return to full-scale war with Iran, even as President Trump says it will not happen before Election Day.
The Pentagon instructed U.S. Central Command several days ago to finish preparing for resuming major combat operations in Iran, U.S. officials told Axios on Wednesday. The order did not set a date, and Trump had not made a final decision. If fighting resumes, sources told Axios, it would likely include massive bombing of Iranian energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets.
NBC News reported that Trump and his national security team discussed restarting large-scale operations in the coming weeks, including before the midterms. "The Department's job is to develop and present military options to the President," a Pentagon official told Axios.
The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is also preparing to send thousands of additional naval forces to the Middle East in the coming weeks. That would give Trump room to escalate.
Then came Trump's pledge. "We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections," he wrote Thursday, the New York Post and the Washington Examiner reported. He said talks with Iran were productive and the U.S. blockade would stay in force.
Israeli officials told Axios the chance of strikes before the election "is not high," but that it rises sharply after the midterms. If combat resumes, the U.S. and Israel would most likely fight together, they said.
How this fits: Recent U.S. strikes have been limited, the Post reported. Most American firepower has gone to blockading Iranian oil and guarding tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has said he expects to win the war after the vote.
White House officials said "the commander-in-chief has all options available at any time," the Examiner reported.
What we know: Central Command has orders to be ready, and Trump has publicly ruled out strikes before Nov. 3.
What we don't: When or whether Trump will order new strikes after the election.
Where outlets agree Axios and NBC News both report that the administration is preparing options to resume major combat in Iran, possibly before the midterm elections.
Where they differ NBC News reports Trump's team discussed launching strikes before the midterms, while an Israeli official told Axios the chance of that happening before the election "is not high."