US forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch new, potentially major military operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from President Donald Trump, according to two US officials cited by CNN on Monday.

Sufficient forces are already deployed in the region to carry out the potential attacks, the officials said. The report stresses that readiness is not the same as an order: Trump has not made a final decision on major action, and officials said he has backed away from leaning positions before.

Bigger than routine strikes

The scope under discussion would go beyond the limited, periodic strikes the US has used since Trump halted full-scale combat operations earlier this year. Those operations have targeted radars, missile launchers and other assets that can be quickly rebuilt.

A new operation, one official said, would be a big effort, with a wide-ranging target list reported to include Iranian energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities. Iranian officials, in turn, have warned that another round of strikes would trigger a much broader conflict in the Gulf, including threats to American bases and energy infrastructure.

Timing points past the midterms

Current and former officials familiar with the planning discussions said an order could come at any time before the end of the year, but was seen as most likely after the US midterm elections on 3 November. Israel votes on 27 October, adding a second election calendar to the same security debate.

The distinction matters for readers: the 96-hour figure describes how quickly forces could act after authorisation. It is not a confirmed attack date, and no authorisation has been reported.

Source: CNN