Pentagon Prepares Military Options Against Iran Following Midterm Elections
The U.S. military has prepared several options for potential strikes against Iran following the midterm elections scheduled for November 3, in a move that could reignite military confrontations ongoing for over eight months amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end the conflict. Sources familiar with the plans revealed that the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for American forces in the Middle East, has developed plans for additional strikes against Iran, pending approval from the White House. Another source involved in military planning stated that CENTCOM has prepared multiple scenarios for attacks on Iran to present to U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, noting that President Donald Trump is keeping all options open until a final decision is made. Iranian affairs expert Gregory Brew considers the likelihood of the U.S. resuming military strikes against Iran after the midterm elections to be "very high." Meanwhile, Harrison Mann, former executive officer at the Middle East and Africa Regional Center of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, indicated that Trump has two potential paths for escalation if he decides to attack Iran. He explained that the first path involves resuming strikes against military and political targets within Iranian territory, while the second includes targeting civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, especially if Israeli forces participate in operations. Mann noted that since April, the U.S. has primarily targeted sites along Iran's coasts and has conducted limited airstrikes inside Iranian territory, possibly no more than one or two strikes. He suggested this approach aims to reduce escalation risks and avoid the potential downing of additional U.S. aircraft. He added that the second path, more likely if Israel is involved, could include targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure such as universities and police centers, similar to Israeli attacks during the early stages of the conflict. Mann emphasized that these two paths are not mutually exclusive, meaning a new campaign could combine strikes on military, political, and civilian sites. When asked for comment on the military preparations, a Pentagon official stated that the department's mission is to "prepare military options and present them to the President." He added, "We do not speculate on hypothetical scenarios or future operations." These preparations come as the Trump administration seeks to extract significant concessions from Iran amid ongoing diplomatic stalemates to end the conflict. Trump had warned of possible new attacks on Iran after the midterm elections, as the Republican Party aims to retain its majority in both houses of Congress. The U.S. administration bets that continued sanctions and naval blockades, alongside worsening economic conditions and rising inflation, will increase pressure on Iranian leadership and compel them to accept a deal with Washington. Brew stated that the aim of using military force is to add more pressure on Iran to push it toward concessions and reach an agreement that allows the U.S. to exit the conflict. He added that one motivation for considering renewed military strikes is frustration over the lack of diplomatic progress. He continued, "The Iranians are not backing down, and they show no flexibility. They have maintained a negotiating stance for several weeks."
