The New York Times reported that the US and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for a short, intensive operation after the Nov. 3 US midterm elections targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, missile and drone arsenal, and energy infrastructure. Some US officials told the paper that another major round of strikes after nearly eight months of war could push Iran's economy over the brink and force diplomatic concessions, though President Donald Trump has yet to approve the attacks. Speaking to NewsNation on Wednesday, Trump said the US is "not negotiating" with Tehran and that "something one way or the other" will happen "fairly soon," adding that "most people seem to think it's after the election."
The post-midterm planning follows an Israeli push to launch a multi-day offensive over the weekend of Oct. 10 that Trump blocked over concerns about restarting full-scale war before the vote, the Financial Times reported. Meanwhile, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit are deploying to the region with about 10,000 sailors and Marines to join two US aircraft carriers in the Arabian Sea, Drop Site reported. Supreme National Security Council Secretary Gen. Mohsen Rezaei told the outlet that Iran has presented seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to talks, warning that a renewed conflict would bring undersea cables, data centers, artificial intelligence facilities, and Gulf energy sites within range of Iranian retaliation.