US and Israel draw up plans for renewed Iran strikes after midterms, NYT reports

The United States and Israel have drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes on Iran to be carried out after the US midterm elections on 3 November, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

Citing US officials and others briefed on the deliberations, all speaking anonymously, it describes a short, intensive three-day operation. Likely targets: Iran’s nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure and missile and drone arsenals — though refineries would be spared to avoid pushing petrol prices higher. Some US planners believe the campaign could damage Iran’s economy enough to change its position (Haaretz; JPost; Times of Israel).

The two militaries have stepped up exercises, including flights over Iraq rehearsing strike manoeuvres, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel this week (Haaretz). The force includes three aircraft carriers, thousands of Marines, fighter jets and special operations forces.

Nothing has been approved: Trump has vetoed several plans for a return to major combat this year, most recently this month, while diplomatic efforts continue (Haaretz; JPost).

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned in a social media post: “Iran is prepared to give diplomacy another chance if we see strong evidence of a sincere desire by US to build trust & reach a just solution. But if US chooses war over diplomacy, it’ll certainly result in an even greater strategic failure” (The Times). Iranian officials have also threatened broader retaliation, including strikes on data centres and undersea communications cables (JPost).