US reportedly prepares follow-up strike options on Iran as Trump signals possible action soon

The United States military has drawn up options for renewed strikes on Iran, according to reporting cited in Washington, raising the prospect of another escalation in a conflict that has already stretched for months. The plans are said to be ready for follow-up action if authorised by the White House, with possible targets including energy facilities, infrastructure and nuclear sites. The reporting comes as President Donald Trump has suggested the US could strike as soon as "tomorrow", while also leaving open the possibility of a deal with Tehran.

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The latest account says Central Command, which oversees US forces in the Middle East, has prepared several options for Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. It also says the planning has been framed around the period after the November 3 US midterm elections, although the timing of any decision remains unclear. The report does not say that an attack has been ordered, and it stresses that the final decision rests with Trump.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused Washington of derailing negotiations, but said efforts to reach an agreement should continue. The developments matter because they point to a possible return to wider military confrontation between the US and Iran. A renewed campaign against energy, infrastructure or nuclear sites would carry significant regional and international consequences, particularly if it triggered further retaliation.

The reporting also comes amid warnings from US officials about alleged Iranian threats to American personnel overseas, adding to the sense of heightened risk. In that context, the military planning is being read as part of a broader pressure campaign rather than a settled decision to go to war. The reports build on earlier claims that the Pentagon had instructed Central Command to complete preparations for a possible resumption of major combat operations.

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Those preparations were described as options rather than an order, but they indicate that US planners have been working through scenarios for a renewed campaign. The possibility of strikes on energy facilities and nuclear sites is especially significant because such targets could affect both Iran's domestic resilience and the wider regional economy. Any attack on infrastructure would also raise questions about how far the US is prepared to go in trying to force concessions from Tehran.

The political backdrop is also important. Trump has publicly kept both military action and diplomacy on the table, which leaves the situation uncertain and potentially volatile. His comments suggesting a strike could come very soon contrast with the reported focus on post-election planning, showing that the timeline may still shift.

At the same time, Pezeshkian's remarks suggest Tehran is still signalling a willingness to keep negotiations alive, even while accusing Washington of undermining them. The reporting also follows claims that the US and Israel have drawn up joint plans for an attack on Iran after the midterm elections. If accurate, that would suggest coordination beyond a purely unilateral US posture, although the details of any such planning remain unclear.

The broader pattern points to a conflict in which military, diplomatic and intelligence tracks are all moving at once. That makes the next decisions in Washington especially consequential for the region. What remains unclear is whether Trump will authorise any strike, what targets would be chosen, and whether the reported plans are intended mainly as leverage in negotiations.