by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly prepared to launch a massive new military offensive against Iran earlier this month, potentially exceeding the scale of February’s U.S.-Israeli strikes, but President Donald Trump opposed restarting the war ahead of the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, according to a Financial Times investigation published Wednesday.
Citing three people familiar with the military planning, the Financial Times reported that the Israel Defense Forces had prepared a multiday bombing campaign for the weekend of October 10, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, regime installations, power plants, and other infrastructure previously spared during the conflict.
The proposed offensive would have been considerably more intense than February’s Operation Roaring Lion, which severely damaged Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities. However, Trump reportedly withheld support, unwilling to reignite a major Middle East conflict just weeks before Americans head to the polls.
The Financial Times reported that Israel had assembled an expanded list of potential targets, including infrastructure critical to the Iranian regime. Whether American forces would have participated directly remains unclear.
Military Strike Could Follow U.S. and Israeli Elections
Despite the postponement, the prospect of renewed military action remains very much alive.
One source familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times that renewed strikes following the Israeli elections on October 27 and American elections on November 3 were a realistic possibility.
Another source described the increasingly narrow diplomatic options facing Tehran: “There will either be a deal or an attack.”
The report follows an unannounced visit to Israel by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, during which he met Netanyahu to discuss regional security threats. Israeli reports indicate that Iran dominated the discussions, further fueling speculation that Washington and Jerusalem are coordinating their next moves.
However, a separate report published Wednesday by The Jerusalem Post challenged the Financial Times account. Citing its own sources, the newspaper said the IDF had not received orders to carry out an October 10 attack, although Israeli forces had maintained heightened readiness amid concerns about Iranian escalation.
Iran Nuclear Standoff Deepens
The latest revelations come as diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled over Iran’s nuclear program, uranium enrichment, and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump administration continues to demand meaningful restrictions on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, while Tehran has resisted American conditions and sought sanctions relief.
Earlier reporting by Axios revealed that Netanyahu and Trump had discussed the possibility of renewed joint military operations, with Israeli officials expressing particular concern that Iran was attempting to rebuild elements of its nuclear infrastructure.
Although Trump has publicly ruled out American attacks before the midterms, the Financial Times report suggests that the possibility of a major confrontation has been postponed rather than eliminated.
With Israeli elections less than a week away and American elections approaching, the coming weeks could prove decisive in determining whether diplomacy produces an agreement or the United States and Israel resume their military campaign against the Islamic Republic.
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