US and Israel Plan Next Iran Strikes

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has paused, but officials on both sides say it will resume soon. Major combat operations have stopped, and diplomatic talks have stalled. Both governments are now planning the next phase of the war, which began on February 28 of this year.

This week, War Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Israel to discuss joint strike plans. Israeli sources report that the proposed targets include Iran's petrochemical facilities and nuclear sites. The White House stated that the United States will not launch new attacks before the November 3 midterm elections. This timeline suggests a specific start date for the next wave of fighting. The US naval blockade of Iran's ports has now lasted 100 days.

In September, Iran proposed a seven-day ceasefire, which President Donald Trump rejected. Tehran says the offer remains available. Israel faces its own political deadline with an election scheduled for October 27. On October 18, President Trump endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that the US would finish the job against Iran only with Netanyahu in charge. Three days later, on October 21, Netanyahu told a rally in Dimona that the only way to end the Iranian threat is to overthrow the regime. He said he had issued that directive to the army, Mossad, and security services.

Iran has adjusted its military strategy in response. Commanders announced a new doctrine that includes preemptive strikes and attacks on bases in neighboring countries used for operations against Iran. They warned that renewed attacks would cause a global energy crisis. Attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest level this month.

The war has changed the security environment for the Gulf states. US military bases in the region have turned host nations into targets. The strategy of casting Iran as a permanent enemy has brought economic loss to the Gulf and increased fighting in Palestine and Lebanon. Qatar has called for a regional dialogue among Gulf Cooperation Council states, Turkiye, and Pakistan. Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman have kept mediation channels open with Tehran throughout the conflict.

Arab states are considering new approaches to the conflict. Some officials argue that the region should handle its own security through cooperation rather than relying on Washington. If major Gulf nations declared that their territory would not be used for another war on Iran, the calculations in Washington and Tel Aviv would change. Normalization deals with Israel are currently on hold until a Palestinian state exists.