New ships and Marines.. Trump's decision against Iran "has not been made yet"

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Although US President Donald Trump announced that he would not launch strikes against Iran before the end of the US midterm elections scheduled for next November 3, plans have been placed on the Pentagon table.

Officials familiar with the plans reported that the US military had prepared a range of options for carrying out strikes against Iran, including operations that could be carried out before the midterm elections. The officials said that a new aircraft carrier strike group, along with a Marine expeditionary unit, is currently heading to the Middle East. While the Pentagon is considering sending additional air defense equipment and ammunition to American bases in the region.

A US Navy official added that the new ships will join the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, as well as nine destroyers equipped with guided missiles and three ships transporting Marine forces, according to what was reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The current plan revolves around a short and intense military campaign that will last about 3 days, and focuses on targeting Iranian missiles and drones, a large part of which the Revolutionary Guard has rebuilt since the early stages of the war. The list of potential targets also includes Iranian energy facilities and command centers of the Revolutionary Guard.

In addition, other American sources indicated that plans are being prepared despite Trump’s “hesitation,” according to the New York Times.

Second sources also explained that the final decision has not yet been taken, but “if large-scale fighting resumes, it will include intense bombing of Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites,” according to the Axios website.

Despite this, the US President spoke yesterday, Thursday, about “fruitful discussions” with Tehran, while ruling out launching a new attack on it before the midterm elections. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, “We are having fruitful discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran.” He also added, “I want to make clear to everyone that at a time when Iran is suffering from a very bad situation, economically and militarily, and while the (US naval) blockade will remain imposed in full force... we will not launch an attack on Iran before the midterm elections that will be held in the United States on November 3.”

In addition, he stressed that “oil is flowing in record numbers of barrels through the Strait of Hormuz, 22 million barrels last night alone, without a barrel leaving or entering Iran!”

Trump's statements came as crude oil prices continued to rise yesterday. At approximately 15:30 GMT, the price of a barrel of Brent North Sea crude reached $105.54, an increase of more than five percent, while the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil reached $92.90.

Oil prices began the week on a decline in light of indications that oil exports from the Middle East are returning to pre-war levels, and the G7 countries agreed to withdraw quantities of their strategic reserves.

However, tension returned to the markets with Tehran escalating its strikes on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, senior officials in the oil sector warned of a decline in global inventories to worrying levels.

While opinion polls showed that American voters are dissatisfied with the rise in fuel prices related to the conflict launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February.

The midterm elections will determine the course of the last two years of Trump's presidential term.