US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday morning, checking in amid preparations for possible strikes on Iran, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing people familiar with the call.
According to the WSJ, Trump had earlier held another meeting with senior military commanders at the White House to discuss options for resuming major combat operations. Over the past few weeks, multiple media outlets have reported that the US could resume strikes on Iran after the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran, warning of “another little Epic Fury” if Tehran fails to meet his peace terms. US officials have reportedly warned Arab allies hosting American military bases to prepare for a short but intense operation.
Asked at a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Saturday night whether he expected to “go back to war with Iran” in the coming weeks, Trump replied: “Let’s say I did – would I tell you? I can’t tell you this.”
The Pentagon has reportedly presented Trump with potential targets ranging from Iranian nuclear facilities and underground military sites to Kharg Island, a major oil export hub in the Persian Gulf. The US has also been sending additional missile interceptors to the region and relocating troops from vulnerable bases.
According to a Jerusalem Post report published on Saturday, the US and Israel have already drawn up plans for renewed military action, but Trump is unlikely to order strikes before Tuesday’s vote unless intelligence indicates preparations for a surprise attack.
A resumption of hostilities would come at a sensitive time for Netanyahu, whose right-wing bloc failed to secure a parliamentary majority in last week’s election. He will remain in office as coalition negotiations continue.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Trump had not decided whether to launch new strikes against Iran but preferred a diplomatic solution. His remarks came as Iranian negotiators met Qatari mediators in Doha following more than 12 hours of discussions in Tehran on Friday. A source familiar with the talks told Reuters that diplomacy was being coordinated through regular contacts with Washington.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had reviewed a letter from US Vice President J.D. Vance aimed at reopening negotiations, describing the initiative as a “positive step.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the armed forces to prepare for “an immediate and effective response, without geographical restriction” if the country is attacked again, according to a statement released by his office on Saturday.
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