Pentagon Prepares Iran Strike Options, No Decision Made

The Pentagon has directed U.S. Central Command to prepare for a possible resumption of major combat operations in Iran, according to accounts attributed to U.S. officials. President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, and the directive does not set a date for any strikes. The reported preparations concern military options, not an order to attack. A Pentagon official said the department’s role is to develop and present options to the president. A White House official said Trump had all options available. The reports do not establish that an operation has been authorized or that it will take place. U.S. and Israeli officials said renewed operations could occur before the U.S. midterm elections on November 3, although one Israeli official assessed that the likelihood before the vote was not high and said it would rise afterward. The timing remains uncertain. A separate account said administration officials were still debating the scope and timing of possible attacks. If operations resume, officials cited in the reporting said they could involve strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear targets. The scale and targets have not been settled publicly.