Israel planned Iran strike, Trump blocked it, FT reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his military to prepare a large, multi-day air campaign against Iran for the weekend of 10 October, but the plan was shelved after US President Donald Trump opposed new major fighting before the 3 November US midterm elections, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing three people familiar with the preparations.

The report has not been confirmed on the record by either government. Netanyahu's office did not respond to the newspaper's request for comment, and the Israeli military declined to comment, Israel National News reported.

Key points

• The FT says Israel planned a multi-day bombing campaign against Iran for the weekend of 10 to 11 October.
• Planned targets reportedly included nuclear sites, power stations, other infrastructure and sites linked to the regime.
• Trump opposed renewed major fighting before the 3 November midterms; on 8 October he said the US would not attack Iran before the election.
• A source quoted in the report said there will either be a deal or an attack.
• Israel holds its own parliamentary election on 27 October; Netanyahu has denied seeking a strike before it.
• Iran's foreign minister warned that any new attack would bring retaliation.

What the report says

According to the Financial Times, as reported by Israel National News and World Israel News:

• The plan: Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) earlier in October to prepare a bombing campaign lasting several days, due to begin over the weekend of 10 October.
• The targets: Iranian nuclear facilities, power plants and other civilian infrastructure, and sites linked to the ruling establishment. The campaign was described as larger than the joint Israeli-American offensive launched in February.
• Why it stopped: Trump opposed restarting the war before the midterm elections, citing concerns about the economy and energy prices.
• Not ruled out: One source said strikes could still resume in the coming weeks, with a choice between a deal and an attack.
• Unclear: It is not known whether the US would have joined the operation or whether Israel would have acted alone.

Israel reportedly gave US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, an updated target list based on recent intelligence. One source suggested the preparations may also have been meant to put pressure on Tehran in negotiations.

What Trump and the White House have said

On 8 October, Trump said publicly that the US would not attack Iran at any time before the midterm elections, CNBC and World Israel News reported. The White House said through a deputy press secretary that Iran was under severe economic and military pressure, and repeated that the US would not attack before the vote.

The White House has disputed earlier reports that Trump and Netanyahu discussed restarting the war. Last week, Axios reported that the two leaders had discussed renewed strikes before the elections; a US official denied that such a conversation took place, Israel National News reported.

We reported on what Trump has said about the war in our story Is the Iran war over? What Trump actually said this week.

Netanyahu, Israel's election and the IDF

Israel holds a parliamentary election on 27 October. Netanyahu has denied that he wanted a pre-emptive strike before the vote, telling Army Radio on 14 October that it would not be convenient for Israel, World Israel News reported. He has also said Israel is committed to completing what he called the elimination of the Iranian regime.

The IDF has cancelled soldiers' leave from Thursday until after election day, citing security threats. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the measure was meant to keep the vote safe. He has also reportedly warned that a new confrontation could force the election to be postponed if Iran launched large-scale missile attacks, World Israel News reported. Netanyahu would reportedly stay on as caretaker prime minister if he failed to form a government after the vote, which has raised concerns about a war decision being taken during that period. Current and former security officials have reportedly worried that a major campaign before the election could affect the vote and the formation of the next government.

In a video released on Monday, Netanyahu told Trump that the two countries had a job to finish together, and Trump replied by calling Netanyahu a great fighter, Israel National News reported.

Iran's warning

Iran has warned that any new US or Israeli offensive would be met with retaliation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that Iran had "unfinished jobs too", in a message daring Israel and the US to try again, World Israel News reported.

The war so far in 2026

How to read the report

The Financial Times report is based on unnamed sources, and both governments have so far declined to confirm it on the record. Senior Israeli military and political sources have pushed back on the account, suggesting the leak could be a political move rather than a sign of imminent action, according to JFeed.

What is clear from public statements is that the timing of any new strike is tied closely to two elections, Israel's on 27 October and America's on 3 November, and to the state of talks with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear programme.

Why it matters for India

A renewed war between Israel, the US and Iran would directly affect India:

• Oil prices: Much of India's crude oil comes through the Strait of Hormuz. A new campaign against Iran's energy infrastructure could push prices sharply higher.
• Indians in the region: Millions of Indians live and work in the Gulf, and Indian seafarers sail through Hormuz every day. This week alone, a tanker with 21 Indian crew was hit in the strait; read our Al Dasma tanker report.
• Diplomacy: India has strong ties with Israel, Iran and the Gulf states, and has called for de-escalation throughout the conflict.

What happens next

The key dates are 27 October and 3 November. After the US midterms, Trump will face renewed pressure to choose between a deal with Iran and further military action, and Israel may push for the strike it reportedly prepared. We will follow the story closely.

The plan may be on hold, but the report suggests the choice between a deal and another war with Iran is only weeks away.