WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has been presented with options for a renewed U.S. military campaign against Iran that could last anywhere from several hours to several weeks, according to reports published Sunday.
No final decision has been made, and Washington is continuing diplomatic contacts through Qatar as it weighs whether to resume military action.
U.S. military leaders have prepared several scenarios for the White House. The Atlantic reported that one option would involve a campaign lasting several weeks, initially targeting Iranian defenses and potentially expanding to infrastructure used for both civilian and military purposes. Another scenario calls for a days-long operation focused on Iran’s nuclear program.
The options also include maintaining the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz while threatening renewed action, or declining to launch another attack. Current and former defense officials cautioned that even a large-scale campaign might not force Tehran to make concessions and could further deplete stocks of key U.S. munitions.
Trump Increases Pressure on Tehran
Trump has said the conflict should end soon and has framed the choice as an agreement or renewed military pressure. He also said the United States may still have “one or two” targets to address, including the suspected underground nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Trump during a telephone call to resume strikes immediately after the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3, Axios reported, citing Israeli and U.S. sources. Trump, however, is currently inclined to give negotiations more time.
No Final Decision
U.S. officials previously warned several Middle Eastern countries to prepare for possible strikes and for Iranian retaliation. Diplomats briefed on those warnings told The Associated Press that Trump had not approved a new operation.
Iranian representatives have held a third consecutive day of consultations with Qatari mediators. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was prepared for both diplomacy and defense. No agreement has been reached, with the nuclear program, sanctions, the blockade and conditions for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz among the central disputes.
Washington’s review of longer military options follows earlier reports that any renewed campaign might be brief. Whether any plan is carried out will depend on the outcome of diplomacy and Trump’s decision after the election.
Source: Vesti Baku