On October 8, 2026, reporting emerged that the White House had asked the Pentagon to develop strike options against Iranian energy and nuclear sites to be exercised before the midterms. Trump posted the next day that the U.S. would not attack Iran before the November 3 vote. Reporting since describes U.S. and Israeli plans for three days of intensive strikes after the election, with CNN reporting major strikes ready within 96 hours of an order, and Trump saying something will happen fairly soon, most likely after the vote. The U.S. is pulling troops from bases in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait, and a declassified ODNI memo warns Iran is plotting against U.S. officials.