Pentagon
Pentagon draws up intense three-day Iran strike plan: NYT
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- The proposed targets include Iran’s missile and drone arsenal, energy facilities and Revolutionary Guard headquarters.
- Trump has rejected five proposals for major operations against Iran or the Houthis in recent months.
The Pentagon has drawn up plans for a three-day campaign of intense strikes against Iran targeting its missile and drone capabilities, energy facilities and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters, The New York Times reported on Thursday.
The plans have not been approved, and the exact scope and timing of any operation remain uncertain.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States would not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, citing what he called productive discussions with Tehran.
According to the Times, Trump has rejected five proposals in recent months for major operations against Iran or the Houthis. Some of his advisers question whether additional strikes would significantly alter Tehran's position, while others argue that a short, intense campaign could put further pressure on Iran's weakened economy.
The Pentagon has nevertheless continued preparations for possible major combat operations. Axios reported on Wednesday that US Central Command had been directed to prepare for potential operations, with energy, infrastructure and nuclear-related sites among the possible targets.
The military planning comes as diplomatic efforts remain active. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had received Washington's response to an Iranian seven-day proposal and was reviewing it. The proposal is aimed in part at creating conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway remains one of the main flashpoints in the conflict. Iran has said it will not reopen the strait until conditions it has set are met, while the United States has sought changes to Iran's nuclear program and arrangements for maritime traffic.
Read more: US could resume strikes against Iran within three weeks: Axios
