US and Israel plan for possible Iran attack, source tells NPR

The US and Israel are preparing plans for a possible attack on Iran in early November, after the US midterm elections, NPR reported on 22 October, citing one person briefed on war planning. DW separately reported that senior US officials had described specific plans for a short, intensive operation to the New York Times.

The US and Israel launched the conflict in late February, and the US last struck Iran in early September, according to DW. The reported planning concerns a possible operation, not a confirmed decision to launch an attack.

Reported targets and diplomatic objective

According to DW’s account of the New York Times report, senior US officials said the two countries had developed specific plans for a “short but intensive operation.” Potential targets include Iran’s nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and missile and drone arsenal.

One official told the newspaper that the aim would be to force Iran into diplomatic concessions by further weakening its economy. DW reported that negotiations to end the conflict had stalled and that a continuing US blockade of Iranian oil exports had reduced Tehran’s oil revenues.

Iran says it is preparing a regional response

Iran said it was prepared, according to NPR. DW reported separately that Iranian officials said a response to another US attack would include US bases in the region and energy facilities in the Gulf.

Tehran says its strategy is to keep the government functioning and threaten enough regional costs to make a prolonged campaign unattractive. It has warned neighboring governments that US military bases and critical infrastructure could become targets if those countries assist another US or Israeli operation, DW reported.

The US midterm elections are scheduled for 3 November. DW also reported that two US aircraft carrier strike groups are in the Arabian Sea, with a third expected to arrive by late November.