WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is planning a major military strike on Iran, in coordination with Israel, to follow the November 3 midterm elections, according to the report. Washington has already warned Gulf Arab states to prepare for what it describes as an extremely intense, short-duration operation.
To support the planned strikes, US forces are replenishing weapons and missile stockpiles on a large scale and readying bombers and fighter jets. The military has also moved a Patriot air and missile defense system from Texas to protect its bases against possible Iranian missile retaliation, and has relocated troops from high-risk areas to safer locations.
Next month, roughly 20 warships, an additional aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine Expeditionary Unit are expected to arrive in the Middle East, a buildup that suggests Washington is positioning its full strength ahead of any attack.
Rising Costs
The conflict is also straining US finances. Latest Pentagon figures show the military has spent more than $47 billion on the Iran war so far, about 25 percent above the Defense Department’s estimate last July. Roughly $29 billion went to restoring weapons used in the fighting, $6 billion to replacing destroyed equipment, and $11.9 billion to personnel and other expenses. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had put the total at $37.5 billion as of July.
Public Warnings
Speaking at a campaign event in Florida, Trump warned that if Tehran does not agree to a peace deal, the US will carry out another devastating attack, code-named “Little Epic Fury.” He said he has no intention of striking before the elections, but diplomats have signaled that an attack could come at any time. “Operation Epic Fury,” launched on February 28, remains ongoing.
Nuclear Rationale
The central aim of the campaign is to end Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions. Trump has said US forces completely destroyed three major nuclear sites, at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, in June 2025, setting Iran’s program back by decades. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran has made no attempt to rebuild the damaged facilities. International experts nonetheless believe the new strikes are intended to eliminate the program permanently and prevent Tehran from ever building a nuclear weapon.