Trump Weighs Renewed Military Campaign Against Iran After Midterms

President Donald Trump is weighing the resumption of full-scale military operations against Iran following the November 3 midterm elections. During high-level White House briefings on Thursday, Admiral Brad Cooper of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine presented military options for a short, intense campaign. Trump suggested a potential return to heavy bombing, referencing a previous operation known as Epic Fury, and asserted that the U.S. is monitoring an underground nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain.

To prepare for potential hostilities, the Pentagon has increased its Middle East presence, repositioned troops, and deployed additional munitions. This build-up includes sending ten Air Force transport planes and an additional Patriot missile battery to Israel to bolster defenses. Simultaneously, the administration is pursuing a dual-track strategy; Vice President JD Vance has engaged Iranian hard-liners to revive peace negotiations, and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack stated the two nations are close to a de-escalation deal.

Political opposition has intensified as the conflict's cost reaches $47 billion. Senator Chris Murphy characterized the reported war plans as "insane," warning that targeting civilian infrastructure would be illegal and trigger devastating retaliation against Americans in the region. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Hegseth fired the Joint Chiefs' head of strategy, Brett Sylvia, over alleged leaks regarding Iran and Russia. Iran has responded to the build-up by resuming ballistic missile production and threatening attacks on U.S. and Gulf targets.