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Israel’s military planned a major operation against Iran earlier this month but held back after US President Donald Trump ruled out an attack before the November 3 midterm elections, the Financial Times reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed to resume large-scale strikes against Iran and ordered the military to plan a new offensive earlier this month.
According to sources cited by the FT, the military prepared a multi-day bombing campaign starting October 10. The operation was intended to exceed the intensity of the joint US-Israeli offensive launched in February.
Planned targets included nuclear facilities, sites linked to Iran’s ruling regime and civilian infrastructure, including power plants.
The operation did not proceed because Trump was unwilling to restart the war ahead of the US congressional midterm elections, the sources said. The White House told the FT that the United States would not attack Iran before the vote.
However, one source said strikes could resume within weeks. Washington reportedly aims to pressure Tehran into accepting an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear program.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Israel on October 19 and held talks with Netanyahu. According to one source, Israeli officials presented him with an updated list of targets in Iran, including civilian infrastructure that had not previously been attacked.
Israel is preparing for parliamentary elections on October 27. The military remains on heightened alert and is canceling leave for all personnel in the days leading up to the vote. The chief of staff said the measures were necessary to ensure safe elections.
A renewed attack could draw the United States and Persian Gulf countries back into the conflict and push energy prices higher. Trump and Netanyahu have continued to publicly threaten Iran with renewed strikes.
The developments come as Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a new low ahead of the US midterms, with only about one-third of surveyed voters supporting him. A Democratic victory could also trigger investigations into his administration, alongside renewed calls for impeachment.
