US and Israel 'Ready' to Strike Iran Again

Washington, Agencies: The New York Times revealed that U.S. and Israeli forces have drawn up specific military plans to launch a new round of intense strikes on Iran following the U.S. midterm congressional elections, based on statements from American officials and insiders familiar with the deliberations. Both sides’ military forces are intensifying aerial drills and maneuvers over Iraqi airspace in preparation for a swift but highly effective operation, while U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu options for targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and its missile and drone arsenals, aiming to inflict severe damage on the Iranian economy and force Tehran to make diplomatic concessions after eight months of continuous conflict.

These developments coincide with a massive U.S. military buildup expected to be fully deployed by early November, including three aircraft carriers, thousands of Marine Corps personnel, fighter jets, and special operations forces, providing the U.S. military with the capability to conduct nighttime attacks amid the region’s increasing hours of darkness.

For his part, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that his country had destroyed Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities through two operations: Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury. Speaking at an election rally in South Carolina, Trump stated that “the toll Americans bear from the war is a small price,” describing Iran as “the number-one state sponsor of terrorism.” He added, “We could withdraw now, but we want to ensure the results we’ve achieved in Iran endure for a long time.” He continued, “We now guarantee that Tehran will not possess a nuclear weapon, and these steps should have been taken years ago.”

Trump noted that “most people believe his country will do something after the elections in Iran,” but he refrained from elaborating, saying only, “We’ll see what happens.” He affirmed that his administration is not negotiating with the Iranians, adding, “Something will happen one way or another, soon.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that he would inform Trump of Israel’s intended actions but would not seek his green light to strike Iran. Netanyahu stated that he had issued directives that “the only acceptable solution is the overthrow of the fanatical regime in Iran.” He claimed Israel had “crushed its enemies” in Gaza, Lebanon, and Tehran, and in Iran itself, considering that 90 percent of the mission had been completed, with only 10 percent remaining. Netanyahu said that toppling Iran’s leadership is an explicit goal of Israeli security forces. At a graduation ceremony for a class of officers, he added, “There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all: overthrowing the regime in Iran, and that is my directive to the Israeli military, Mossad, and security agencies.”

On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghci affirmed that, under current circumstances, there are few indicators suggesting progress in negotiations with the United States, attributing this to continued U.S. threats of attacks on Iran and Washington’s lack of willingness to reach an agreement. In an article published by the Financial Times, Araghci stated that implementing Iran’s seven-point plan, which Tehran presented to the United States, would gradually restore normalcy to the region.