US and Israel Prepping to Renew Iran War Next Week, NYT Reports
Two Middle Eastern officials said in an interview that Israel and the United States are carrying out their most intense preparations yet to renew attacks on Iran, possibly as soon as next week, the Times of Israel reported. Options reportedly include a more intense bombing campaign, the seizure of Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub, and putting commandos onto the mainland to extract highly-enriched uranium buried under rubble. A senior Israeli official told Channel 12: “We’re preparing for days to weeks of fighting and waiting for Trump’s final decision. We’ll know more in 24 hours.”
Iran is thought to hold a stockpile of about 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium — enough material for about ten warheads — buried following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025. Extracting it would require thousands of supporting forces and would risk significant casualties. Pakistani-mediated negotiations, supported by China, have failed to bridge the gap on Iran’s nuclear programme and the post-war control of the Strait of Hormuz. On Friday Trump signalled flexibility, telling reporters he would accept a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment if Tehran gave a “real” guarantee — an apparent shift from his earlier demand for a permanent halt.