The U.S. Department of Defense instructed the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees the Middle East, a few days ago to prepare for the resumption of large-scale military operations against Iran, U.S. online media outlet Axios reported on October 7 (local time).

According to U.S. government officials, the Pentagon did not specify a exact launch date when issuing these directives.

A final decision by U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet been made.

A Pentagon official told Axios that "the role of the Department of Defense is to develop military options and present them to President Trump."

U.S. and Israeli sources reported that the resumption of U.S. military operations could take place before the U.S. midterm elections on November 3 or prior to the Israeli general election, which is held even earlier.

Previously, the U.S. magazine The Atlantic also reported that President Trump is considering resuming airstrikes against Iran ahead of the midterm elections.

Sources added that if the U.S. military re-enters military operations against Iran, large-scale bombings are expected to target Iran's energy and social infrastructure, as well as its nuclear facilities.

However, if the U.S. military resumes large-scale operations against Iran before the midterm elections, oil prices could surge again and potentially impact the election results.

The possibility of the U.S. military resuming operations against Iran comes amid ongoing reports that discussions are underway within the U.S. and Israel to assess the situation in the Middle East and formulate countermeasures.

Axios reported that on October 2, foreign policy and national security chiefs of the Trump administration held a top-secret meeting at Camp David, the presidential retreat, chaired by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

It was also reported that President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone the previous day, having barely communicated for several weeks.

Prime Minister Netanyahu also spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 5.

Axios forecasted that if U.S. operations are resumed, Israel would participate, taking the form of joint military action between the two countries.

It also shared remarks from an Israeli source stating that the Iranian regime is in a desperate and paranoid state and could launch a preemptive strike.

The Iran war has continued for over half a year as differences between the U.S. and Iran remain unbridged, centered around control of the Strait of Hormuz, and peace negotiations have effectively stalled.

A White House official responded regarding the possible resumption of military operations against Iran only by saying that "President Trump holds all the cards and will act in the best interest of the United States."

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