Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could order "one last strike" against Iran even if he loses Tuesday's election for the 26th Knesset, according to sources familiar with the deliberations cited by The New York Times. Netanyahu may believe that whoever succeeds him would hesitate to carry out such an operation.
Similarly, US President Donald Trump could order another attack to demonstrate that his authority as commander in chief remains undiminished, the newspaper reported.
Trump is preparing for the US midterm elections on Nov. 3, just over a week away, as he faces growing political pressure over his Middle East policies. Netanyahu, meanwhile, faces a crucial Israeli parliamentary election on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Both elections could dramatically alter the balance of power in their respective countries, adding another layer of complexity to the calculations being made by all sides.
Within the Trump administration, officials are expressing concern that Iran has reached the "advanced stages" of planning attacks against American officials. On the other side, Iranian leaders appear convinced that Israel and the United States are preparing to launch their third major offensive against the Islamic republic in 16 months.
Diplomats told The New York Times that the shifting political circumstances in Washington and Jerusalem could fuel a major escalation. A senior European official warned that, given the intelligence pointing to Iranian assassination plots against American officials, even a single gunshot perceived as targeting a US official could trigger a wider conflagration.
US officials confirmed to The New York Times Saturday that Iran was preparing attacks against American diplomats and government personnel. They said the latest intelligence suggested Tehran could attempt to assassinate US ambassadors in the Middle East and American officials on US soil.
Senior US officials familiar with the discussions also told the newspaper that Trump appeared to be leaning toward another round of major strikes inside Iran during private conversations.
According to an official with direct knowledge of the planning, US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, has developed plans identifying an expanded list of bombing targets, including energy infrastructure and other facilities vital to Iran's economy.
Echoing Trump's rhetoric, a senior Iranian official declared on social media in recent days that his country was preparing to confront its adversaries through surprise attacks, with "zero red lines."
