US President Donald Trump has ordered US Central Command to prepare a plan for a strike on Iran, without setting a target date, Kan News reported Friday evening. The order put Israel's defense establishment on alert as well.
According to a senior Israeli official who spoke to Kan, the Israeli and American militaries have now prepared for another operation in Iran for the third time in roughly six months. This time, however, the preparations have not reached the stage of approving a strike plan.
The official did not rule out a strike after the US midterm elections on November 3 and before the end of the year. "It mainly depends on the Americans. It's clear to us that in any scenario, we strike together," the official said.
The official also pointed to Tehran's refusal to give ground at the negotiating table. "The Iranians are not willing to compromise on the nuclear issue in the negotiations, and that is the central issue," he said, adding that a military strike could not bring down the regime, only weaken it.
That assessment stands in contrast to remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week. Speaking at an officers' course graduation ceremony, Netanyahu said Iran is once again trying to develop nuclear weapons under Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. "There is only one way to remove this threat once and for all: to topple the regime in Iran, and that is my directive to the IDF, the Mossad and the security arms," he said.
Kan also reported this week that some officials in Israel's defense establishment had reservations about striking Iran before Israel's October 27 election, out of concern that it would be seen as a political move. A strike would also affect reserve call-ups and other processes, considerations that were reportedly raised in discussions between IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and his American counterpart.
The report follows a New York Times story earlier this week that the US and Israel have stepped up military drills ahead of what officials described as a short but intensive operation after the midterms. According to the Times, the US is building up its arsenal in the region, which is expected to be ready in early November.
On Friday, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said a strike on Iran could come as soon as this weekend. Barrack does not have a direct role on Iran policy, and Trump appeared to distance himself from the remark when asked about an imminent strike. Trump has previously said the US would not resume strikes before the midterm elections.
