Two US officials: ready for a major strike on the Islamic Republic within 96 hours

Two US officials say US forces in the Middle East are ready to launch a new, large-scale operation against the Islamic Republic within 96 hours of receiving an order from Donald Trump. According to current and former US officials, the question is no longer whether a strike will happen but when; a moment that, in their assessment, could come at any time until the end of the calendar year and will most likely be after the US midterm elections.

The officials, who spoke to CNN, say enough forces for these strikes are now deployed in the region, and one of them said the operation would be "a major effort". US Central Command and Pentagon leaders have prepared an extensive list of targets, including the Islamic Republic's energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities. According to them, Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision but is leaning towards major action, although he has repeatedly backed away from similar decisions at the last minute before.

Beyond strikes on radars and missile launchers

The new operation would go beyond the pattern of recent months; a pattern that, after full combat operations stopped earlier this year, was limited to strikes on radars, launchers and equipment that the Islamic Republic quickly rebuilds. At the same time, non-essential US forces that were due to deploy to the Middle East in the next rotation have been told their deployment is cancelled, and the US is continuing to reduce staff at its embassies in the region. The White House declined to comment, and a senior Pentagon official said the department's job is to design and execute the options the president orders.

Israel and the Islamic Republic's threat

According to US officials, Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed for a new strike, but Washington has asked him to wait until a joint operation is ready; this is consistent with reports of a rift between Netanyahu and Eyal Zamir on the eve of Israel's election. A memo from Jay Clayton, the US director of national intelligence, to Marco Rubio on 23 October states that the Islamic Republic has markedly increased efforts to target US personnel and that some plots have reached advanced stages.

The report comes after Donald Trump said he would either finish off the Islamic Republic or Tehran would make a deal, and US officials reported his inclination to resume military operations.

US forces say they are ready for a major strike on the Islamic Republic within 96 hours of Donald Trump's order.