White House asks Pentagon for Iran strike options before November 3 US midterms
In short
The White House has asked the Pentagon to prepare options for strikes on Iran that could be carried out before the US midterm congressional elections on November 3, Kommersant, Interfax and Meduza reported, citing The Atlantic. US Central Command is drawing up the plans, and the scale and targets of possible strikes are still being discussed. Separately, Interfax and RBC reported, citing Axios, that the Pentagon is preparing new attacks, including massive airstrikes on Iranian energy and nuclear sites if large-scale fighting resumes.
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Kommersant, Interfax and Meduza reported, citing The Atlantic, that the White House has asked the Pentagon to prepare options for strikes on Iran that could be carried out before the US midterm congressional elections on November 3. Kommersant and Meduza said The Atlantic's sources were two representatives of the US administration; Interfax described them as informed sources. According to Kommersant and Interfax, the plans are being drawn up by US Central Command (CENTCOM). [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The sources said the scale and targets of possible strikes are still being discussed, and Interfax and Meduza added that whether the administration will act at all is also still under discussion. Meduza reported that the Pentagon had already prepared several options for Trump to resume strikes after the elections and that the military is now working through the possibility of resuming the operation before the vote. Interfax cited The Atlantic as saying a limited operation could be followed by larger military action after the midterms. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Kommersant reported, citing the magazine's sources, that President Donald Trump wants to bring fuel prices down and show progress in the conflict with Iran before the elections. "It would create the impression that the president had won, and gas prices would start to fall," a source told The Atlantic; Interfax attributed the remark to an unnamed member of the Republican Party, while Meduza attributed it to one of the administration sources. Meduza wrote that Republicans fear the war in Iran and the price rises it caused will hurt the campaign and the party's chances of keeping its majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Meduza, citing The Atlantic, reported that new strikes are unlikely to lower fuel prices and could even raise them; according to the US Energy Information Administration, oil prices usually rise when Washington resumes strikes after a pause. The magazine also said any new operation would put about 50,000 US troops in the region, as well as US allies in the Persian Gulf, at risk. Meduza cited American Automobile Association data showing that in early October 2026 a gallon of gasoline cost an average of $4.37, compared with about $3 before the strikes on Iran began on February 28. Oil peaked at $118 a barrel in spring 2026 and is now around $100, Meduza reported. [ 4 ]
Interfax separately reported, citing Axios and informed sources familiar with plans being developed by the Pentagon, that if large-scale fighting against Iran resumes, US forces intend to carry out massive airstrikes on Iranian energy and nuclear infrastructure. RBC, also citing Axios, reported that the Pentagon had ordered new attacks on Iran to be prepared, that strikes could resume before the November 3 US elections or even before Israel's elections on October 27, and that the Israeli military could take part. [ 3 , 5 ]
Why it matters
According to The Atlantic as reported by Meduza, any new operation would put about 50,000 US troops in the region and US allies in the Persian Gulf at risk, and new strikes could push fuel prices up rather than down. The reported planning is tied to the timing of the US midterm elections, which Republicans fear the war and the price rises it caused could hurt.
Key facts
- The White House asked the Pentagon to prepare options for strikes on Iran before the US midterm congressional elections, The Atlantic reported. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The midterm elections are on November 3. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- US Central Command (CENTCOM) is drawing up the plans. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The scale and targets of possible strikes are still under discussion. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- A gallon of gasoline cost an average of $4.37 in early October 2026, against about $3 before the strikes on Iran began on February 28, according to American Automobile Association data cited by Meduza. [ 4 ]
- Oil peaked at $118 a barrel in spring 2026 and is now around $100, Meduza reported. [ 4 ]
- Axios reported that if large-scale fighting resumes, US forces plan massive airstrikes on Iranian energy and nuclear infrastructure. [ 3 ]
- Axios reported that strikes could resume even before Israel's October 27 elections and that the Israeli military could take part. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The White House asked the Pentagon to prepare options for strikes on Iran before the US midterm congressional elections, according to The Atlantic. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- US Central Command is drawing up the plans. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The scale and targets of possible strikes are still under discussion. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The US midterm elections are on November 3. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the administration will actually order strikes. The Atlantic's sources, as reported by Interfax and Meduza, said this is still being discussed.
- Who made the remark that strikes would make it look as if the president had won and gas prices would fall. Interfax attributes it to an unnamed Republican Party member, while Meduza attributes it to one of the administration sources.
- Whether a limited operation would be followed by larger military action after the midterms. Only Interfax reports this, citing The Atlantic.
- Whether strikes could come before Israel's October 27 elections and involve the Israeli military. Reported only by RBC, citing Axios, in a short summary.
- A late-September plan involving Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US on restoring shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and resuming talks, and Trump's response to it. Kommersant mentions it, but the text received is incomplete and does not say what either side did.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 7: Kommersant reports, citing The Atlantic, that the White House asked the Pentagon for a plan to strike Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. [ 1 ]
- October 8: Interfax reports The Atlantic's account, adding that CENTCOM is drawing up the plans and that larger action could follow after the midterms. [ 2 ]
- October 8: Interfax reports, citing Axios, that US forces plan massive airstrikes on Iranian energy and nuclear infrastructure if large-scale fighting resumes. [ 3 ]
- October 8: Meduza reports the story with figures on fuel prices and the risk to about 50,000 US troops in the region. [ 4 ]
- October 8: RBC reports, citing Axios, that strikes could resume before Israel's October 27 elections and that the Israeli military could take part. [ 5 ]