29/10/2026
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29/10/2026
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WASHINGTON, Oct 29: The United States and Israel are preparing for a possible week-long bombing campaign against Iran after the November 3 US midterm elections if diplomatic efforts fail to secure an agreement, Axios reported Wednesday, citing US, Israeli and regional officials.
The potential operation could target Iran’s leadership, energy facilities, nuclear sites and other critical infrastructure, according to the report, raising the prospect of a renewed and potentially wider conflict across the Middle East.
Axios reported that Israeli military chief of staff Gen. Eyal Zamir spoke with US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Adm. Brad Cooper on Monday to coordinate ahead of possible attacks.
However, US President Donald Trump has not announced a final decision to resume strikes, and the report does not establish that an operation is inevitable.
The military preparations are unfolding alongside an intensified diplomatic effort led by Qatar to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran and prevent the conflict from escalating after the US elections.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey are supporting the mediation initiative, according to Axios.
Qatari negotiators have been urging Iran to permit United Nations nuclear inspectors to visit facilities damaged in previous US and Israeli strikes, potentially in exchange for limited US sanctions relief.
The proposals seek to bridge a major gap between Washington and Tehran. The United States wants Iran to relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium, while Tehran is demanding that Washington first lift its naval blockade and release frozen Iranian funds.
A regional source and a US official told Axios that mediators had warned Tehran that accepting the proposals could be its best opportunity to avert major attacks after the midterm elections.
According to the report, Iran said it would seek Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s approval for the proposals in the coming days.
Saudi officials have also urged Washington to allow more time for negotiations rather than rushing into renewed military action, Axios reported.
Trump says negotiations are underway
Trump confirmed to Axios on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran were taking place through mediators but expressed uncertainty over whether they would succeed.
“We need to finish the job — either through a deal or another way — we will find out if negotiations can succeed,” Trump said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also indicated that Tehran was continuing to engage diplomatically.
“While our Brave Armed Forces are fully prepared to defend the Homeland, Iran continues to give diplomacy a chance to succeed,” Araghchi said in a post on X, according to Axios.
Regional allies warned of possible escalation
The possibility of renewed strikes has heightened concern among US allies in the Middle East.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that US officials had warned several regional countries to prepare for potential military action against Iran after the November 3 elections, as well as the possibility of Iranian retaliation.
According to the AP report, regional allies were advised to take precautions against potential Iranian attacks on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure.
The warnings underscore the risk that a renewed US-Israeli campaign could trigger retaliatory strikes and expand the conflict beyond Iran.
The diplomatic initiative remains an attempt to prevent that outcome, but the gap between Washington’s nuclear demands and Tehran’s conditions for negotiations continues to complicate efforts to reach an agreement.
With the US elections approaching, the coming days could prove critical in determining whether mediation produces a diplomatic breakthrough or the region faces another round of major military operations.