WASHINGTON — The United States and Israel are weighing a resumption of large-scale military strikes against Iran after the U.S. midterm elections next month, sources said. Iran has warned that it would retaliate against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Gulf if the strikes materialize, raising concerns that the war could spread across the Middle East.
The New York Times reported on the 21st, citing multiple sources, that U.S. and Israeli military authorities have drawn up new attack plans targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, missile and drone capabilities, and energy infrastructure.
One option under U.S. consideration calls for about three days of concentrated strikes to inflict severe damage on Iran's economy and military. Some officials believe a large-scale attack could push Iran's economy to a breaking point and extract concessions in nuclear talks, according to the report. Planners are considering excluding Iran's oil production facilities from the target list to prevent a spike in global crude prices.
The United States is stepping up military pressure by deploying additional carrier strike groups to the region. Two aircraft carriers, the USS George Washington and the USS George H.W. Bush, are currently deployed in the Middle East, and the USS Theodore Roosevelt is preparing to join them. The U.S. military is also reinforcing Marine Corps troops and repositioning some forces in anticipation of Iranian retaliation.
Iran has signaled it would respond forcefully if U.S. strikes resume. It has warned in particular that it could attack refineries, oil fields and power grids across the Gulf, including facilities of Saudi Arabia's state oil company Aramco.
Crude prices rose sharply as tensions in the Middle East escalated. In Asian trading on the 22nd, West Texas Intermediate futures for December delivery climbed back above $100 a barrel.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for Russia and Ukraine to sign a peace agreement at the Group of 20 summit to be held in Miami in December, sources said.