Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 28: The United States has told several Gulf countries to prepare for a brief but intense military campaign against Iran after the US midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people briefed on the discussions.
According to the report, the United States and Israel are preparing for another round of intense military operations against Iran. US forces in the Middle East are replenishing ammunition stocks, while bombers and fighter jets are being readied for potential strikes.
Israel has also drawn up plans and identified targets for a possible fresh attack, the report said.
US President Donald Trump has not made a final decision but is leaning towards a major attack targeting Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites, according to the report cited by Xinhua News Agency.
However, Trump could still pursue a diplomatic agreement with Tehran. Last week, he said the United States might launch another “little Epic Fury”, referring to the US-Israeli bombing campaign earlier this year, or Iran could agree to a deal.
The US President has said he would not attack Iran before the midterm elections.
Last week, Trump warned that American forces could launch another round of military strikes if Tehran failed to reach an agreement with Washington, indicating that further military action remained an option despite his claims that Iran had already suffered a decisive defeat.
Speaking at a Republican campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump suggested that the United States could repeat elements of its military campaign against Iran if diplomatic efforts failed.
“We may do another little Epic Fury, or they’ll agree. If they’re smart, they’ll just say, let’s get down to business,” Trump told supporters.
His remarks came as he sought to portray the military campaign as successful while maintaining pressure on Tehran to accept an agreement that would prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.
Trump referred to two American military operations against Iran, Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury, claiming they had destroyed the country's nuclear enrichment capabilities and severely weakened its military and economy.
“We obliterated Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity with Operation Midnight Hammer,” he said.
The President maintained that subsequent operations had reinforced the initial strikes but did not specify the conditions Iran would have to meet to avert further military action.
“We defeated them militarily, financially and otherwise and now we are ensuring it’s done,” Trump said.
His comments indicated that Washington was prepared to maintain military pressure on Tehran even as the administration considered the possibility of reaching an agreement.