US ready for major Iran strikes within 96 hours, awaits Trump's order: Report
US forces are reportedly ready to begin major strikes against Iran within 96 hours of an order from Donald Trump.
US forces in the Middle East could begin major strikes on Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from President Donald Trump, CNN reported, citing US officials. Trump has not approved an attack, but the military is preparing for a wider operation as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a conflict that has disrupted shipping and unsettled the region.
US military prepares for possible new strikes on Iran
Military planners have drawn up options that could go well beyond limited attacks on Iranian radar systems and missile launchers. Reported targets include military bases, nuclear facilities, and energy infrastructure.
Some officials believe Trump could decide after the US midterm elections on November 3, though no timetable has been confirmed. The White House has declined to comment on the military preparations.
How the US-Iran war began in February 2026
The latest development follows eight months of fighting. The United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes against Iran on February 28, saying they wanted to weaken its military and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against targets across the Gulf and threatened ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The fighting soon spread beyond Iran and Israel, exposing neighbouring countries to repeated attacks.
A ceasefire was reached in April. Pakistan and Qatar later helped negotiate a June agreement intended to stop the fighting and open the way for further negotiations. However, the arrangement collapsed within weeks and expired in August.
Washington and Tehran have since exchanged smaller attacks, leaving the conflict unresolved as regional governments continue efforts to restore peace.
Strait of Hormuz blockade deepens US-Iran tensions
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Gulf with international shipping routes, has become one of the biggest sources of disagreement between Washington and Tehran.
Iran has restricted shipping through the passage, while the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran wants Washington to lift the restrictions, but the two sides remain divided over the conditions for ending the confrontation.
The disruption has raised the cost of transporting oil and created uncertainty in international energy markets. On Wednesday, oil prices rose above USD 115 a barrel following an attack by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi fighters on Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery.
Renewed US strikes could trigger further attacks on oil installations and shipping routes, increasing economic pressure on countries that depend on Gulf energy supplies.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey push for peace talks
Diplomatic efforts are continuing despite the threat of another major military confrontation. Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian representatives in Tehran on Monday, October 26, to discuss ways to prevent further fighting.
The talks covered attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of reopening negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Qatar has also presented a fresh proposal aimed at ending the conflict; however, an Iranian official told a news agency on Wednesday that the proposals were unacceptable.
The main disagreement concerns Iran's nuclear programme. Washington wants Tehran to accept nuclear restrictions as part of a settlement, while Iran insists that the US must first end its port blockade and lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that it cannot verify the status of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile because inspectors have been unable to access all relevant nuclear facilities.
Iran and Houthi retaliation fears grow amid US military buildup
American officials are also concerned about possible retaliation if fighting intensifies.
In an October 23 intelligence memo obtained by a news outlet, US intelligence chief Jay Clayton warned that Iran had increased efforts to target American personnel overseas. The warning referred to plots that had reached advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries.