The White House has asked the Pentagon to prepare options for strikes on Iran that could take place before the November 3 midterm elections, The Atlantic reported Wednesday, citing two administration officials.
US Central Command is developing the options, a US official told the magazine. The potential targets, scope of an operation, and whether President Donald Trump will authorize military action remain under discussion.
According to the report, administration officials linked the planning to Trump’s desire to show progress in the conflict and address high gasoline prices ahead of the vote.
Supporters of limited strikes believe an operation could help the president present a military success before the elections, the magazine reported.
However, even advocates acknowledged that such attacks alone would not secure an agreement with Tehran, restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, or reduce gasoline prices before Election Day.
White House weighs timing of renewed strikes
The Pentagon has also presented options for operations after the elections, ranging from limited attacks to a broader campaign that could include additional strikes on Iran’s energy industry, according to The Atlantic.
Some presidential advisers favor waiting until after the vote, the report said, amid concerns that renewed fighting, particularly if American troops are killed, could hurt Republican candidates.
A White House official told the magazine that Trump “has all options available at any time,” but did not answer questions about the timing of potential strikes.
The deliberations follow earlier reporting on preparations for possible escalation. The Jerusalem Post reported on October 2, citing The Washington Post, that the Pentagon was considering increasing its naval presence in the Middle East as Trump weighed renewed attacks after the elections. That report put the existing US deployment in the region at approximately 50,000 troops.
Negotiations continue amid military planning
Washington and Tehran are continuing to communicate through intermediaries, The Atlantic reported, although disagreements remain over a ceasefire, the US blockade, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The magazine also reported that Iranian attacks on shipping earlier this week had prompted some shipowners to reconsider transiting the waterway.
The military planning comes alongside continuing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program. In a Reuters interview published by The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said an agreement would require concrete reductions in Iran’s enrichment capacity.
Vance also said Washington was uncertain how decisions were being made within Iran’s leadership and how much authority its negotiating counterparts held.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Washington’s nuclear demands conflicted with Tehran’s position, adding that recognition of Iran’s right to enrichment remained a red line.