The war isn't over: Insiders say it's not if, but when Trump orders a 'big effort' against Iran
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump had said that he was not planning any attack on Iran before the US midterm elections, and now, as the vote date draws closer, the question of whether the president is really weighing a major attack on the Islamic Republic is growing.
Amid reports that the US is contemplating using the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ against Iran and that Washington and Tel Aviv are coordinating strikes, insiders reportedly claim that Trump is leaning towards a large-scale offensive against Tehran.
US officials say Trump leans toward major Iran action
US forces in the Middle East are ready to launch new, potentially major, military operations against Iran “within 96 hours of receiving” an order from Trump, two US officials told CNN in a report published on Monday, October 26.
US forces are now deployed in the region in sufficient numbers to carry out the potential attacks, the sources said.
The new military operation could go beyond limited strikes on Iranian radars, launchers and other assets that can be quickly rebuilt, as the US has carried out since Trump halted full combat operations earlier this year.
One source said, “It will be a big effort.” Several other current and former US officials, who are familiar with internal developments, have echoed similar intent from the government.
As per the report, some of these people also believe that it is a question of when, not if, Trump will issue a go-order.
The expected order could come any time before the end of the year, though most likely after the US midterm elections.
Officials say that Trump has not decided what he will do after the midterms. But he appears to be leaning toward ordering major action. However, officials have also cautioned that Trump has appeared in the past to lean toward certain actions only to back off at the last moment.
A senior Pentagon official told the outlet in a statement, “The Department is a planning organization, and its job is to develop and execute military options ordered by the president.”
Trump rejected Netanyahu's push for a pre-election strike
The outlet also claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to convince President Trump to launch an attack before the Israeli election and midterm elections in the US, but Trump refused to follow the idea.
Notably, Israel is holding its general election on October 27, with Netanyahu facing a tough electoral battle.
“Netanyahu really wanted and tried to convince Trump to launch a joint attack in Iran before the elections, and Trump did not give a green light,” the Israeli security source told the outlet.
The prime minister’s office said this was “fake news.”
