U.S. Forces Ready to Launch Iran Strike Within 96 Hours If Ordered by President Donald Trump

U.S. military planners have prepared a major operation against Iran that could be executed within 96 hours of a directive from President Donald Trump, two officials told CNN on Sunday. The proposed strike would exceed the scale of previous U.S. actions that targeted quickly replaceable assets such as missile launchers and radar sites.

According to a source briefed on the matter, Israel has been preparing its own possible strike on Iran and has been lobbying Washington to join the effort. U.S. officials, including President Trump, have asked Israel to postpone any attack, likely until after the upcoming midterm elections.

"The plans are ready, waiting for Trump’s approval, could be after the midterms," the source said.

Separate sources indicated that both Iran and the Houthi movement are closely monitoring the situation and consider a renewed U.S. attack a serious threat, though they are not expected to launch preemptive strikes at this stage. An intelligence assessment noted that any U.S. or Israeli strike would likely provoke immediate retaliation against U.S. personnel and facilities in the region, prompting the United States to reduce its diplomatic presence in several Middle Eastern embassies.

The White House declined to comment. A senior Pentagon official told CNN that the Department of Defense functions as a planning organization, tasked with developing and executing military options ordered by the President.