"White House Asks Pentagon to Prepare Options for Attacking Iran Before Midterms"

"Could Help Highlight Military Successes Before Election"
Backchannel Talks With Iran Stall... Nuclear Issue Remains an Obstacle
Syria Also Considers Deploying Troops at Saudi Arabia's Request Amid Houthi Offensive

Reuters-Yonhap News

The U.S. White House has reportedly asked the Pentagon to attack Iran before the midterm elections on November 3.

The Atlantic, a U.S. current affairs magazine, cited Trump Administration officials on October 7 local time as saying, "At the White House's request, U.S. Central Command is considering several options for attacking Iran before the midterm elections." It added, "The president's advisers who support an attack on Iran believe that a military operation before the election could help highlight President Trump's military successes."

It continued, "President Trump wants to show progress in resolving the eight-month war with Iran and address the current problem of high gasoline prices." It added, "The potential attack's scale and targets are still under discussion, and no final decision has been made."

The Washington Post also cited White House officials earlier this month as saying, "President Trump is seeking to step up the offensive against Iran immediately after the midterm elections." It added, "The Pentagon is considering several options for airstrikes on Iran, as well as ways to increase naval forces deployed to the region."

At a campaign rally in Texas on October 2, President Trump also claimed, "Iran is ready to collapse. We will win the war with Iran either immediately after the election or before it." He added, "Once the war with Iran ends, U.S. energy prices will fall quickly."

However, it remains unclear whether Iran would come to the negotiating table after U.S. airstrikes. Back-channel talks between the United States and Iran are underway, but significant differences over the nuclear issue reportedly remain. CNBC, citing a senior Iranian official, reported, "Iran will never give up its right to enrich uranium, but the details of enrichment can be discussed later." The United States is demanding an immediate end to its nuclear program.

The expansion of fighting between the Houthis, an Iran-backed armed group, and Saudi Arabia is also proving to be an obstacle to negotiations between the United States and Iran. According to The New York Times (NYT), Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said that airstrikes hit King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh, and Abha International Airport in the south on October 8, killing three people and injuring 36. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strikes.

Saudi Arabia, in alliance with Yemeni government forces, is fighting the Houthi rebels along the Red Sea coast and has asked neighboring Sunni-majority countries to send troops. Axios reported on October 8 that Syria was considering deploying troops to help defeat the Houthi rebels at Saudi Arabia's request, with the force expected to number between 10,000 and 20,000. With Syria considering a large-scale deployment after Turkey and Pakistan announced they would send troops, fighting with the Houthi rebels is expected to intensify.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.