Iran strike readiness: US can act within 96 hours, officials say

Iran strike readiness has reached the point where US forces could launch a major attack within 96 hours of an order from Donald Trump.

Two US officials gave that timeline to a US network, adding that enough forces already sit in the region. Trump has not decided whether to order major action, and any strike may wait until after the midterm elections.

What Iran strike readiness would involve

Officials described a “big effort” in Iran strike readiness planning that would go well beyond earlier strikes on assets that Iran can quickly rebuild, such as missile launchers and radars.

Central Command and the Pentagon have drawn up a broad target list. Iranian power and fuel facilities, bases and nuclear plants all feature on it, according to the report.

A senior Pentagon official said the department is a planning organisation. Its job, he added, is to develop and carry out military options that the president orders.

Several other current and former US officials with knowledge of internal military discussions have said the real question is timing, not intent. In their view, Trump could give the order before year end, probably once the midterms have passed. They also warned that Trump has backed away from similar moves at the last moment.

Retaliation fears behind the Iran strike readiness

US intelligence assessments say Iran and the Houthis take the risk of renewed attacks seriously. If American or Israeli forces attack first, both would probably answer straight away by targeting US personnel and sites nearby.

Sources do not expect either side to launch a preemptive attack at this stage. Still, Iran strike readiness is not the only concern, and the threat explains why Washington plans to keep quietly withdrawing staff from embassies across the Middle East.

Only the Riyadh embassy now operates under an ordered departure. Other posts are expected to receive similar orders or to cut staffing under a cap.

In addition, nonessential military personnel due in the next troop rotation have learned that they will no longer deploy.

An unclassified October 23 intelligence memo already warned that Iranian plots against US personnel had reached advanced stages.

Israel and the Strait of Hormuz

Benjamin Netanyahu has urged fresh strikes on Iran, and Israeli officials sought American participation. However, US officials, Trump among them, told Israel to hold off until American forces get ready for joint operations.

An Israeli security source said Netanyahu tried to convince Trump to approve a joint attack before the Israeli election. He said Trump declined partly because Israel’s military chief, Eyal Zamir, told General Dan Caine that a strike would harm the vote.

Meanwhile, Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads US Central Command, visited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. The US military keeps up its blockade of Iranian ports and helps shipping pass through the waterway.

Oil prices remain high, even though more tankers now cross the strait. This pressure adds weight to Iran strike readiness in Washington. One US official described the status quo as “untenable” over time.

Without a diplomatic breakthrough, that pressure could push Trump toward military action, although officials question whether the White House has a wider strategy for ending the conflict.