Chinese outlets relay Axios report US military told to prepare for renewed Iran strikes
In short
Citing an Axios report from October 7, Chinese business outlets said multiple US officials stated that the US Department of Defense had instructed Central Command days earlier to prepare for a possible resumption of large-scale military action against Iran. The instruction set no strike date, and US President Donald Trump has not made a final decision. The reported options include large-scale bombing of Iranian energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets.
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Chinese business outlets Yicai, CLS and Jiemian reported on October 8 that, according to the US news site Axios on October 7 local time, multiple US officials said the US Department of Defense had instructed US Central Command several days earlier to complete preparations for a possible resumption of large-scale military action against Iran. The outlets said the instruction did not set a specific strike date and that US President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the relayed report, US and Israeli sources believe any such action could take place before the US midterm elections, or before the Israeli elections held a week before them. If large-scale military action resumes, it is expected that it could include large-scale bombing of Iranian energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yicai and Jiemian, crediting CCTV International News, added that the report said Trump's national security team held a meeting lasting several hours at Camp David last week, which included discussion of possibly resuming large-scale military action against Iran. The two outlets also reported that US-Iran negotiations have so far made no progress, and that Qatar is still waiting for Iran to respond to the latest US proposal. None of the outlets reported a response from US or Iranian officials. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
According to the relayed report, US and Israeli sources see possible timing tied to the US midterm elections or the Israeli elections held a week earlier. The documents also say US-Iran talks have made no progress, with Qatar still awaiting Iran's response to the latest US proposal.
Key facts
- Axios reported on October 7, local US time, citing multiple US officials, that the US Department of Defense had instructed US Central Command days earlier to prepare for a possible resumption of large-scale military action against Iran. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The instruction did not give a specific strike date. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- US President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision, according to the report. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- US and Israeli sources believe any action could come before the US midterm elections, or before the Israeli elections held a week earlier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- If resumed, large-scale military action is expected to possibly include large-scale bombing of Iranian energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Trump's national security team held a meeting of several hours at Camp David last week that discussed possibly resuming large-scale military action against Iran. [ 1 , 3 ]
- US-Iran negotiations have made no progress, and Qatar is still waiting for Iran's response to the latest US proposal. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Yicai, CLS and Jiemian all relayed the Axios report that the US Department of Defense instructed Central Command to prepare for a possible resumption of large-scale military action against Iran. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- All three outlets reported that no strike date was given and that Trump has not made a final decision. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Yicai and Jiemian reported, citing CCTV International News, that Trump's national security team discussed the issue at Camp David last week and that Qatar is still awaiting Iran's response to the latest US proposal. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether and when the US will resume large-scale military action against Iran. The documents say no strike date was set and Trump has not made a final decision.
- The exact targets and scale of any action. The documents describe possible bombing of energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets only as an expectation if action resumes.
- The underlying claims rest on unnamed US officials and US and Israeli sources quoted by Axios. None of the Chinese outlets reported independent confirmation or an official US or Iranian comment.