US Ready to Strike Iran Within 96 Hours of Trump Order

Two US officials told CNN that American forces in the Middle East can open a broad campaign against Iranian nuclear, military and energy targets within 96 hours of an order from President Donald Trump. US officials, Trump among them, told Israel to hold off on attacking, likely until after the American midterm elections. The report lands a day before Israelis vote in the October 27 Knesset election.

The forces required are already in place, but Trump has not decided whether to give the go-ahead. US Central Command and the Pentagon have compiled a long target list that covers nuclear sites, military bases and energy infrastructure. Earlier rounds of strikes went after missile launchers, radars and other hardware Iran could rebuild fairly fast. This plan reaches much deeper into the regime's military capabilities. "It will be a big effort," one American official said.

Israel appears to have accepted the delay for now, partly because it relies on American help with missile defense. Its interceptor stocks have been badly strained during the conflict, and any new round with Iran would likely bring another barrage of missiles at Israel.

The White House declined to comment. A senior Pentagon official said that preparing options is routine and is not the same as an order to attack. "The Department is a planning organization, and its job is to develop and execute military options ordered by the President," the official said. Officials also noted that Trump has looked ready to approve major operations in the past, only to change his mind.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing for further military action against Tehran. An Israeli security source told CNN that Netanyahu sought Trump's backing for a joint strike before Israel's election and was turned down. "Netanyahu really wanted and tried to convince Trump for a joint attack in Iran before the elections, and Trump did not give a green light," the source said.

The same source said one reason for Trump's refusal was a warning from IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. According to the source, Zamir cautioned that an attack at such a sensitive moment could draw Iranian retaliation, upend the Israeli vote and possibly force it to be postponed.

A source briefed on the matter said Israel had spent the past week preparing for possible strikes and lobbying Washington to take part. "The plans are ready, waiting for Trump's approval, could be after the midterms," the source said. As JFeed reported earlier Monday, the US request to delay came with a possible joint operation later on.

Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir (Photo: Tzafrir Abayov/Flash90)

Netanyahu has stated his own aim in public. At a graduation ceremony for IDF officers last week, he said he had directed the army, the Mossad and the country's other security agencies to work toward bringing down the Iranian regime.

On October 23, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent an unclassified memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It warned that Iran had stepped up its efforts to target Americans and that some of its plots had advanced to late stages, including in countries outside the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz also figures in Washington's calculations. On Sunday, Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, toured the waterway by helicopter. American forces there are enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports and supporting commercial shipping, and Cooper met service members working to clear Iranian naval mines. Tanker traffic through the strait has picked up, but energy prices remain high because of continued fears of Iranian attacks on shipping.

On October 20, Trump would not commit to renewed military action despite the buildup. "We can win this war tomorrow. Honestly, we can walk away today, because we've already won," he said in an interview. The Pentagon said then that another aircraft carrier and a force of 10,000 troops would soon deploy to the region.