CNN report says Trump weighs new Iran strikes after Nov. 3 election
Key Takeaways
- •CNN sources said potential U.S. operations could begin 96 hours after Trump issues an order.
- •Officials familiar with military planning described renewed strikes as increasingly a question of timing rather than authorization.
- •Iranian forces are reportedly adjusting their defenses to make U.S. targets more difficult to destroy.
- •Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have restricted oil shipments and contributed to higher fuel prices worldwide.
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly sought a joint attack before Israel’s election, but Trump did not approve it.
President Donald Trump is preparing potential new strikes in the Middle East after the election, according to CNN.
The report follows comments cited by Zeteo’s Asawin Suebsaeng from a Trump adviser, who said, “It’s moron time, again.” According to the adviser, after Nov. 3, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is repackaging an old strategy of sustained bombing in an effort to produce a “win” in the Iran war.
CNN reported that any new operations would begin 96 hours after Trump issues an order. “Sufficient forces are now deployed in the region to carry out the potential attacks,” sources told the network. They added that the scope of the operations would likely extend beyond efforts to “mow the lawn” or maintain the status quo by striking radars, launchers and other Iranian assets that can be quickly reconstituted. Such targets have been hit since Trump halted full combat operations earlier this year, according to the report.
The strategy has not produced the outcome Trump sought so far. Bombing that he expected to end within a few weeks has continued for eight months. “It will be a big effort,” one Trump official said.
Current and former U.S. officials familiar with internal military planning discussions said they believe the issue is “when,” rather than “if,” Trump will issue a “go-order.” The officials said Trump is leaning toward ordering the strikes again.
The CNN report also said Iranian forces have gained a better understanding of U.S. tactics and are seeking to make their targets considerably more difficult to destroy. A senior Pentagon official told CNN, “The Department is a planning organization, and its job is to develop and execute military options ordered by the President.”
For most of 2026, the Strait of Hormuz has blocked rapid oil shipments from Iran and other states that use the waterway. The disruption has contributed to a major increase in fuel costs worldwide. Those higher prices could ultimately damage Republicans in the midterm elections.
Behind the scenes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing the United States to renew the strikes as Israel’s own election approaches on Tuesday. “Netanyahu really wanted and tried to convince Trump for a joint attack in Iran before the elections, and Trump did not give a green light,” an Israeli security source told CNN.
The New York Times previously reported that if Netanyahu loses the election, persuading the United States to support new war plans will become considerably more difficult. Zeteo’s report and the Alternet source also provide additional reporting on the claims.
