Reports: Trump blocked a wide Israeli strike on Iran on October 10, and plans are set for strikes after the midterms

⏱️ Timeline

1. 21 Oct 2026, 07:48 The Financial Times reported that US President Donald Trump opposed resuming the war with Iran before the congressional elections, and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had planned to attack Iran on October 10 but Trump prevented the strike from being carried out.
2. 21 Oct 2026, 08:17 The Financial Times, citing three sources, said the Israeli army had planned attacks on Iran about a week and a half earlier targeting civilian infrastructure, power stations, nuclear facilities and targets linked to the Iranian regime, that the attack was set for Saturday, October 10, 2026, that Trump stopped the attack sought by Netanyahu, that Washington and Tel Aviv might resume the war on Iran in the coming weeks, and that Israel had created a new civilian target bank.
3. 21 Oct 2026, 10:17 The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel is monitoring Iran's efforts to restore its strength after the strikes it received in the last war, and that security meetings in Tel Aviv addressed information about Iranian preparations that could boost Tehran's combat capabilities, while Netanyahu wants to hold the Israeli elections on October 27 and avoid a war that could delay them. Al-Ain News reported that the Israeli army cancelled leaves until the Israeli elections on October 27.
4. 21 Oct 2026, 11:14 Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that Israel is monitoring Iran's moves to rebuild its military capabilities amid threats by Israeli officials to respond to any Iranian attack, ahead of the Knesset elections scheduled for Tuesday, and amid an undeclared visit by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to Israel and security consultations on Iran.
5. 22 Oct 2026, 00:48 Media reports said the Pentagon is reducing its military presence in the Middle East while President Donald Trump is considering new attacks on Iran.
6. 22 Oct 2026, 02:53 The New York Times reported that the United States and Israel are planning to strike Iran after the US midterm elections.
7. 22 Oct 2026, 03:19 The Wall Street Journal quoted a White House spokeswoman saying the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections; President Donald Trump stressed the need to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon; the US military is preparing options to strike Iran; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing to resume strikes and has presented a target list to Washington, while Washington reduced its presence in the Middle East and ordered the evacuation of non-essential staff.
8. 22 Oct 2026, 03:51 The New York Times, citing US officials and informed sources, said the United States and Israel had prepared plans for new military strikes on Iran after the midterm elections set for November 3, including a short, intensive operation and targets in the energy sector, the nuclear infrastructure, and the missile and drone arsenal. Axios reported that dozens of Israeli fighter jets carried out a sortie near the Iranian border.
9. 22 Oct 2026, 03:55 The Israeli Broadcasting Authority (Kan) reported reservations within the Israeli security establishment about attacking Iran before the October 27 vote, fearing it would be seen as political interference despite intensified military preparations, and quoted two sources saying preparations for the potential operation remain far from complete.
10. 22 Oct 2026, 04:27 The New York Times reported that the US and Israeli militaries are intensifying preparations for a possible short, intensive military operation against Iran, including drills and aerial sorties over Iraq, and that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed options for new strikes with Netanyahu. MTV Lebanon reported that all US military assets in the Middle East will be ready by November 1, and that a White House official said Trump keeps all options open on Iran.
11. 22 Oct 2026, 09:30 Media reports citing US officials said Washington and Tel Aviv had drawn up plans for an intensive military operation against Iran that could last about three days and would be carried out after the November 3 congressional elections, targeting nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and missile and drone capabilities, while Press TV quoted a senior security source saying Tehran is preparing for an all-out war.
12. 22 Oct 2026, 11:46 The Hebrew Walla website quoted a security source saying the chances of war with Iran are increasing, with intensified Israeli fighter training over the past two weeks and a higher level of military coordination with the United States, that a decision on possible military action may be taken after the elections in coordination with Washington, and that Israel warned Lebanon against Hezbollah joining any confrontation.
13. 22 Oct 2026, 13:22 Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei, said Tehran takes the possibility of new attacks on it seriously and that Washington will not gain Tehran's trust unless it implements Iran's conditions and lifts pressure, while reports spoke of a Qatari-Pakistani proposal to resume negotiations.

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