US plans possible Iran energy strikes, Trump yet to approve

The United States is preparing for a potential new wave of military strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure, with operations possibly beginning as soon as the weekend of July 31, according to multiple reports. While President Donald Trump has instructed officials to prepare for the campaign, he has not yet given final approval. The proposed strikes, which could involve coordination with Israel, would target critical infrastructure such as oil refineries and power plants in what officials have described as potentially one of the harshest bombing campaigns of the ongoing conflict.

The planning follows a meeting in Washington between Trump, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At a cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, July 31, Trump signaled a continued hardline approach, stating the U.S. would be hitting Iran very hard and predicting that Iranian leadership would eventually say they cannot take it anymore. He expressed skepticism about negotiations, accusing Iran of breaking its word. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Iran would continue to pay until it comes to the negotiating table in a...