US President Donald Trump is considering fresh military strikes against Iran before next month’s midterm elections, with the Pentagon preparing possible attack options at the White House’s request, The Atlantic reported.
The report said the United States has not carried out a major strike against Iran for several weeks after months of intermittent fighting, creating a period of relative calm as campaigning enters its final stretch ahead of the November 3 vote.
Political observers had largely assumed Trump would seek to avoid another escalation before the elections, particularly as the conflict and higher fuel prices have become liabilities for Republican candidates.
However, two US administration officials cited by The Atlantic said the White House had asked the Pentagon to draw up options for strikes on Iranian targets that could be carried out before election day.
According to the officials, discussions are partly driven by Trump’s desire to show progress in the conflict and bring down fuel prices before Americans vote.
No final decision has been made, and officials are still debating both the scale and objectives of any potential operation.
US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, is reportedly developing the plans.
Even supporters of limited strikes acknowledge that such attacks would be unlikely on their own to force Tehran back into negotiations, restore security to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz or quickly reduce fuel prices.
The administration is therefore weighing the political and military risks of renewed escalation against the potential benefit of demonstrating that Washington is prepared to use force.
Supporters of another operation reportedly believe a successful limited strike could allow Trump to project strength and claim progress in the conflict at a politically sensitive moment for Republicans.
One Republican familiar with the discussions told The Atlantic that military action could allow Trump to present himself as having achieved a victory while arguing that lower energy prices could follow.
A limited operation before the elections could also be followed by a broader military campaign afterward, the report said.
The deliberations come after roughly eight months of conflict involving the United States and Iran, which has disrupted regional security, threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and contributed to pressure on global energy markets.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that renewed military action remains an option if Washington fails to reach its objectives through diplomacy.
For now, however, the reported Pentagon planning remains contingency work, and it is unclear whether Trump will ultimately authorise another strike before Americans go to the polls.
