US and Israel draw up plans for renewed Iran strikes after November 3 midterms, reports say
US and Israeli planners are preparing a short, intense campaign against Iran's nuclear, missile and energy sites for early November, according to reports, though President Trump has not approved any attack.
At a glance
- The US and Israel have drawn up plans for a possible new round of strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections on November 3, according to reports citing US and Israeli officials.
- A 'short but intensive' operation would target nuclear sites, missile and drone arsenals and energy facilities; US forces in the region are expected to be ready in early November.
- No decision has been made. President Trump has held Israel back before the midterms and could still choose diplomacy; the White House said all options are on the table.
- Iran has warned it would hit shipping, energy sites, data centres and undersea internet cables if attacked; Benjamin Netanyahu called reports that Trump blocked an Israeli strike 'incorrect'.
The United States and Israel have drawn up plans for a possible new round of strikes on Iran shortly after the US midterm elections on November 3, according to reports citing officials on both sides published on October 21 and 22. The plans envisage a short but intensive campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, missile and drone arsenals and energy facilities, but no decision to attack has been taken, and President Donald Trump has so far held back both his own military and Israel.
What the plans include
According to the reports, US and Israeli forces have stepped up exercises, including flights over Iraq to rehearse strike routes. Some US officials believe an intensive offensive lasting around three days could do enough economic damage to change Iran's position in the stalled negotiations. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel earlier this week and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss "threats in the region".
| Element | What is reported |
|---|---|
| Timing | After the November 3 midterms; US forces expected to be ready in early November |
| Type | "Short but intensive" operation, possibly about three days |
| Targets | Nuclear facilities (possibly the "Pickaxe Mountain" site), missile and drone arsenals, energy sites |
| Trump's stance | Wants to wait until after the midterms; reportedly prefers to spare oil infrastructure to avoid higher fuel prices |
| Status | No decision taken; diplomacy still possible |
People familiar with the plans said Israel had prepared for several days of fighting about a week and a half ago, aiming to strike in mid-October before its own election on October 27, but Trump objected. Trump said on October 9 that the US would not attack Iran before the midterms. Planners have described his shifting stance as causing "day-to-day whiplash", and the reports say there is still a small chance he could order strikes this month — or decide against any attack at all.
Reactions
A White House official declined to comment on the plans but said all options remain on the table to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Vice President JD Vance said Iran must make a "meaningful" cut to its uranium enrichment capacity.
Netanyahu on Thursday called reports that Trump had blocked an Israeli strike "incorrect" and declined to say what the two leaders had discussed. Israel's military chief, Eyal Zamir, is reported to have warned US counterparts that a strike in the coming weeks could disrupt Israel's election.
Iran has warned that any new attack would not be short. Iranian officials have threatened to widen retaliation to commercial shipping, energy infrastructure, data centres and undersea internet cables in the Gulf. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was "just as prepared for diplomacy as we are for war".
Background
The US and Israel launched their campaign against Iran on February 28, 2026, targeting its military, nuclear and missile programmes. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel and on US allies across the region and has kept the Strait of Hormuz — through which about a fifth of the world's oil passed before the war — closed to most traffic. The US has blockaded Iranian ports and says it is escorting tankers through the strait.
Talks, including a memorandum of understanding discussed in Islamabad, have largely stalled over Iran's uranium enrichment. Overnight on October 21–22, Iran said seven tankers were hit by attacks or mines in Hormuz, and Brent crude rose to about $112 a barrel.
Why it matters
A new round of strikes would risk a wider regional war just as Gulf states are already under Houthi and Iranian attack. Oil prices, already above $110, could climb further, hitting fuel-importing economies such as Pakistan, India and Bangladesh hardest. Millions of South Asian workers live in the Gulf, and airlines have already cut flights to Saudi Arabia because of attacks.
What happens next
Israel votes on October 27 and the US on November 3. Watch for any breakthrough in indirect US-Iran talks, Iran's response to the ceasefire proposals, and further US military deployments to the region in the days after the midterms.
Questions people are asking
Are the US and Israel going to attack Iran again?
Reports on October 21–22, 2026 say the US and Israel have drawn up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the November 3 US midterms, but no decision has been made and President Trump could still choose not to authorise military action.
What would the new strikes on Iran target?
According to the reports, a short, intense operation would target Iran's nuclear facilities, missile and drone arsenals and energy sites, though Trump is said to want to avoid oil infrastructure to keep fuel prices down.
When is the US midterm election in 2026?
The US midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Israel holds its own general election on October 27.
