Trump says Iran decision coming soon as strike plans emerge
US President Donald Trump said Washington was not negotiating with Iran and that a decision on the conflict would come “fairly soon,” as reports emerged that US and Israeli militaries were preparing plans for renewed strikes against Tehran after the US midterm elections.
“No, I think we’re not negotiating,” Trump told reporters Wednesday after returning from a rally in South Carolina. “We are going to have something one way or the other that’ll happen fairly soon.”
Trump said during the rally that the United States could end the war now but wanted to ensure any outcome would last. He also claimed that Iran had been defeated militarily and financially and would never obtain a nuclear weapon.
Strike plans reportedly target key Iranian facilities
The New York Times reported Wednesday that US and Israeli militaries had developed plans for a potential short but intensive campaign against Iran after the midterm elections.
Citing US officials and others briefed on the discussions, the newspaper said preparations had advanced, including military exercises and flights over Iraq to practise strike manoeuvres.
Potential targets could include Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile and drone arsenal, and energy infrastructure. Plans could also involve the Pickaxe Mountain site, a deeply buried facility associated with Iran’s nuclear programme, according to the report.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel this week to discuss possible new strikes, the newspaper reported.
However, it remains uncertain whether Trump will approve another military campaign. The report noted that he had repeatedly rejected plans to resume major combat operations this year.
Earlier this month, Trump said Washington would not attack Iran before the midterm elections, citing what he described as “productive discussions” between the two sides.
A White House official told The New York Times that the administration would not comment on military plans “that may or may not exist.” The official added that Trump was keeping all options open to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Tehran threatens retaliation against US-linked targets
Amid the reports of possible renewed attacks, a senior Iranian security official warned Wednesday that Tehran would consider US political assets and infrastructure in countries participating in a new war against Iran to be “legitimate targets” under certain circumstances.
According to the semi-official Fars News Agency, the official said Iran considered another US-Israeli attack likely and regarded Washington’s diplomatic gestures as unreliable.
The warning was conditional on Iranian officials being assassinated or civilians killed during a renewed conflict. The official also said growing domestic pressure was pushing Iranian authorities towards what Tehran considers decisive action to break the US naval and economic blockade.
Iran views the blockade and restrictions on its airspace as a continuation of the military aggression that began on Feb. 28, the official said.
The official also accused Israel of exerting decisive influence over US policy in the Middle East, arguing that this was undermining prospects for a diplomatic settlement.
The warning came amid heightened tensions over maritime restrictions and the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway vital to global energy supplies.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled
The United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering Iranian missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz.
A memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran in June following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar has since stalled amid disagreements, including over navigation through the strait.
An Israeli media report on Wednesday also said dozens of Israeli fighter jets had flown close to Iran’s border earlier this week. US sources cited in the report suggested the operation may have been intended to provoke an Iranian response.
With diplomatic efforts stalled, Washington and Tehran continue to exchange warnings, while reports of preparations for possible renewed strikes raise the prospect of another escalation in the conflict. Trump has not publicly confirmed that he has authorised a new military campaign.
Source:AA
