US media reported that the American administration is studying a set of military and economic options for dealing with Iran, amid ongoing preparations for the possibility of resuming military operations and a divergence of views within the administration of US President Donald Trump over the next course.
The Axios website, citing US officials, said the US military is nearing the completion of its preparations in anticipation of a possible return to military confrontation with Iran.
On the other hand, a number of administration officials prefer continuing the policy of economic pressure and tightening sanctions on Tehran for as long as possible, considering it an effective tool for achieving American objectives without direct involvement in military action.
The website, citing a source familiar with the matter, indicated that the administration's approaches toward Iran after the Republicans' loss in the midterm elections remain undecided, while diplomats warned that any Iranian reading of the election results as a political gain could push Trump to adopt more escalatory options, including a return to military action.
In the same context, Fox News quoted informed sources as saying that the White House is seriously studying the possibility of carrying out new military strikes against Iran, noting that this scenario could affect plans to make changes in the leadership of the War Department.
The network also quoted a White House official as saying that the election results would have been significantly different without the war with Iran.
According to these data, the option of resuming military strikes remains on the table for discussion within the American administration, in parallel with another approach calling for continuing economic pressure and the isolation imposed on Tehran, without a final decision being issued on a return to military operations.
