US has plans for major Iran strikes if Trump chooses
US officials report that the military is prepared to launch major strikes against Iranian infrastructure, including nuclear and military sites, within 96 hours of a presidential order. While no final decision has been made, planning is underway for potential action following the US midterm elections.
Why it matters
The report highlights a significant escalation in geopolitical tensions and the potential for direct military conflict between the US and Iran.
US forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch new, potentially major, military operations against Iran “within 96 hours of receiving” an order from President Donald Trump, according to two US officials. Sufficient forces are now deployed in the region to carry out the potential attacks, the sources said. The scope of new US military operations would likely go beyond efforts to simply “mow the lawn” or maintain the status quo by striking radars, launchers and other Iranian assets that can be quickly reconstituted — as has been the case since Trump halted full combat operations earlier this year, the sources added. “It will be a big effort,” one of the officials told CNN.
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