US and Israel Could Resume Strikes on Iran as Early as Next Week
The New York Times reported May 16, citing two Middle East officials, that the US and Israel are conducting their most intense military preparations since last month's ceasefire for renewed strikes on Iran. The officials said operations could resume as early as next week; Trump's advisers have presented strike plans, but the president has not made a final decision. Options under consideration include intensified bombing of Iranian military and infrastructure sites, a special forces mission to extract enriched uranium from nuclear facilities, and a ground seizure of Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf. NBC News separately reported that the Pentagon is considering designating a renewed campaign
Planning has advanced beyond conceptual scoping; three distinct options remain before Trump: intensified bombing, a commando extraction of enriched uranium from rubble-buried facilities, and a ground seizure of Kharg Island. Their divergence confirms no executable package has formed around a single course of action. No declared war aim has been met, leaving the ceasefire without political logic for extension. A commando mission would require thousands of forces in direct combat with Iranian ground troops. Kharg Island seizure carries immediate global oil market consequences. Per a single NYT report attributed to two unnamed officials, whether strikes resume by June 30, 2026 is not amenable to a calibrated estimate. The disclosures' specificity may instead reflect deliberate signaling for diplomatic leverage rather than genuine near-term intent.