U.S. and Israel plan new strikes on Iran as attack before Nov. 3 ruled out
Key Facts
U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran could reach an agreement with Washington but did not rule out resuming military operations, as Israeli sources said the U.S. and Israeli militaries had drawn up plans for new joint strikes. The Associated Press quoted Trump, after he voted early, as saying: "I may have to finish it, or maybe they make a deal, but I'm not sure. Either way, we'll win." The remarks come as the U.S. naval blockade of Iran continues, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program remain on the table in negotiations mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. The White House spokesperson said the United States would not attack Iran before the midterm elections on November 3, 2026, according to ABC News. The network added that the U.S. Defense Department declined to comment on the military plans.
ABC News, citing two Israeli sources familiar with the plans, reported that the U.S. and Israeli militaries had drawn up plans to resume joint strikes on Iran in the coming weeks. The sources expected the strikes to take place after the midterm elections, while the White House said an attack would not occur before then. Targets include petrochemical facilities linked to Iran's oil industry and nuclear sites, including facilities at Pickaxe Mountain, according to the sources cited by the network. One source said the plans do not include civilian infrastructure, such as power plants. These details differ from a report published by The Atlantic, which said potential targets included the missile and drone arsenal, energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, without confirming that a decision had been made to target any of them.
U.S. officials told The Atlantic that the White House was considering resuming the military campaign with strikes that could last several days and might begin after the elections, but stressed that no decision had been made on resuming it. That assessment places the plans reported by Israeli sources among options under consideration, rather than on an announced execution timetable. Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to Islamabad, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said Tehran remained open to talks under an interim agreement reached by the two sides in June with Pakistan's mediation. He added that Iran had told Pakistan it was ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington lifted its naval blockade. The agreement mediated by Pakistan and Qatar aimed to restore shipping through the strait, lift the blockade and begin negotiations toward a broader deal addressing Iran's nuclear program.
Mediation records showed that the broader negotiating process had already begun following the Islamabad memorandum. A joint statement by Qatar and Pakistan said the first high-level round of talks involving Iran, the United States and the two mediators had concluded in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, and participants had agreed to establish a high committee. The statement reported progress and the creation of a mechanism for subsequent technical talks, with senior negotiators to report regularly to the committee. Working groups will address the nuclear file and sanctions, along with monitoring and dispute resolution. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding on June 18, 2026, and called on the parties to implement it fully and accelerate a final agreement within the specified timeframe.
The naval blockade remains a direct economic factor in the confrontation: U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said it had prevented Iran from exporting at least $25 billion worth of crude oil through the week before The Atlantic's report. The magazine added that the blockade and sanctions had effectively halted Iranian oil exports. Oil rose and stocks fell on the day the report was published, the magazine said, adding that even the prospect of renewed fighting unsettled markets. The U.S. State Department also announced a reduction in staffing at 4 embassies in the Middle East after receiving intelligence about escalating Iranian efforts to target U.S. personnel, while keeping the embassies open. The Associated Press quoted U.S. officials as denying that the staffing cuts were connected to any potential U.S. or Israeli strikes, while the report noted that the war had raised energy costs for Americans ahead of the November 3 elections.