According to a report by The New York Times on the 21st, the US and Israeli militaries have developed concrete plans to strike Iran again after the US midterm elections in November, but it remains uncertain whether US President Trump will approve the plan.
The report, citing US officials, stated that US Defense Secretary Hergsays met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu this week to discuss a new strike against Iran. The US and Israeli militaries plan a "short-term, high-intensity" military operation against Iran, potentially targeting Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone arsenals.
The report states that some US officials believe a high-intensity military operation would cause sufficient damage to the Iranian economy and force concessions. However, the report also points out that it remains uncertain whether Trump will approve the new round of military action. This month, the US and Israeli militaries were almost ready to launch an attack, but Trump called it off. A White House official stated on the 21st that the government would not comment on military plans that are "possible or not."
The report concludes that there are reasons to doubt whether a new round of military action would be more effective. Meanwhile, experts point out that Israel will hold parliamentary elections on the 27th of this month, and the results could disrupt related plans. If Netanyahu loses the election and becomes caretaker prime minister, it will be difficult for him to launch another war.
The report also states that Mehdi Mohammadi, an advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker, recently said on social media that the US's idea of completing a new round of strikes against Iran within 72 hours is "delusion." Iran has made meticulous plans, and the counterattack will be "more intense, more unexpected, and different from the past."
