Zamir Briefed on US Plans to Resume Strikes on Iran

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has received a briefing on American military preparations for renewed fighting against Iran in the coming weeks. A senior American official disclosed the briefing to N12 News, in a report by N12 News.

Senior American officials also said President Donald Trump is weighing a return to combat before both the American and Israeli elections, each due within the next month. They said the final decision on when a US strike would take place is expected within seven to ten days.

Trump's public message points the other way. In a Truth Social post on Thursday, he ruled out any strike before the midterms:

"We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd," Trump wrote. "IRAN WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!"

The president added that Washington and Tehran were "having productive discussions" and that the American blockade of Iran remains fully in force.

The New York Times, citing US officials, reported that the Pentagon has drafted a short, intense campaign lasting roughly three days. Targets would include ballistic missile launchers and stockpiles, drone infrastructure, energy installations, and headquarters, command posts and facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). American officials assess that the IRGC has rebuilt much of its missile and drone arsenal since the war began.

So far, Trump has turned down every major option brought to him. Over recent months, his national security team and the Pentagon put forward five proposals for significant operations against Iran or the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, and he declined all five. Three US aircraft carriers are expected in the Middle East soon.

Iranian attacks on shipping have not stopped. The United Kingdom Maritime and Trade Operations (UKMTO) Center counts at least 13 ships hit in the Strait of Hormuz since the last significant US strikes on Iran in September. The latest came on October 6, when an unknown projectile struck an oil tanker. Trump nonetheless insisted that oil is moving through the strait "in record numbers," writing: "22 Million Barrels, last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, Iran!"

On the diplomatic track, the two sides remain divided over sequencing. Washington wants Iran's nuclear program dealt with first, while Iranian negotiators insist the nuclear issue be taken up only at the final stage. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Thursday that Tehran is reviewing Washington's response to a proposal sent through mediators.

Iran did not come up when Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday, a source told N12. The two leaders instead discussed Netanyahu's standing in the polls ahead of the Israeli election and the memorial day for October 7.