The US military has completed preparations to begin a large-scale military operation against Iran within 96 hours if President Donald Trump gives the order, according to CNN reporting cited by Chosunbiz. Two US government officials were the network's sources. Trump has not made a final decision on whether to attack, but forces and military assets are said to be in place so that an operation could start as soon as a command arrives.
If a strike does go ahead, the period after the US midterm elections on November 3 is widely mentioned as the likely window. Chosunbiz reports that current and former US officials also see a reasonable chance Trump will order an attack before the end of the year, with the post-election period viewed as the most probable moment.
Why it matters
The reporting points to a shift in the scale of planning, not just its timing. Previous US strikes have concentrated on targets Iran could replace quickly, such as radar systems and missile launchers. This time, according to the account, the Pentagon and US Central Command are weighing a much broader target list that includes energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities. An operation of that scope would carry consequences well beyond a single exchange of fire, and the region's US personnel and installations would be exposed to retaliation.
The uncertainty is also part of the story. Because Trump has not signed off, it remains unclear whether any operation will actually be carried out. A senior Pentagon official told CNN that the department's role is to plan, and that its job is to develop and execute the military options the president orders — a description that leaves the decision entirely with the White House.
What US intelligence expects from Iran and the Houthis
American intelligence agencies assess that Iran and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels are taking the prospect of further US or Israeli strikes seriously. According to the reporting, they are understood to be preparing retaliatory attacks in response to US or Israeli military action rather than launching a first strike. If hostilities resume, US troops and facilities stationed in the Middle East could become immediate targets for reprisal.
CIA Director Jay Clayton, in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio dated October 23, assessed that Iran has significantly increased its efforts aimed at US personnel, Chosunbiz reports.
Washington tightens protection for Americans in the region
The US government has been strengthening measures to protect Americans in the Middle East. Non-essential staff at the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have been ordered to leave, and the movement of additional non-essential military personnel that had been scheduled has been halted, according to the report.
Coverage of the preparations has spread quickly across South Korean outlets. Kyunghyang Shinmun carried CNN's account of a possible large-scale re-strike on Iran within four days of an order, and Donga Ilbo reported that a joint operation with Israel is expected. YTN highlighted a replacement US aircraft carrier said to be fully loaded with bombs, while JTBC reported that options have been prepared and that an attack on Iran's interior is possible.
What to watch: whether Trump issues the order, and whether the post-midterm window produces movement in the forces already positioned.
