NEW YORK, November 7. /TASS/. Some US President Donald Trump’s advisors believe he has an eight-week window to carry out a new large-scale military operation against Iran, NBC News quoted sources as saying.
It said that after the Democrats gain control of both houses of Congress in January, Trump’s decision to escalate the conflict with Iran could lead to investigations and the adoption of a resolution demanding an end to hostilities. According to some US officials, Trump should order the resumption of strikes within weeks.
The channel mentions Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth among the supporters of expanding the military campaign. According to NBC News, Hegseth blames the current deadlock on the officials who persuaded Trump in April to suspend hostilities and agree to a memorandum of understanding with Tehran. According to the channel’s sources, this includes Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Although Hegseth still believes the United States needs a new large-scale military operation against the Islamic Republic, some of Trump’s advisers believe this would undermine efforts to reach a peace deal, NBC News reported.
Earlier on Friday, the US leader said that progress had been made in the consultations between the United States and Iran on ending the conflict. Meanwhile, according to Fox News, the United States is considering resuming military operations against Iran on November 9.
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding providing for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. However, on the night of July 8, the United States resumed large-scale strikes against Iran, accusing it of violating the agreements on the Strait of Hormuz. About 25% of the world’s oil trade and about 20% of liquefied natural gas trade are transported through it. Later the US administration effectively signaled a shift away from the use of large-scale military force against Iran and toward an attempt to economically strangle it through sanctions.