The US Department of War, the Pentagon, has instructed Central Command to finalise preparations for the possible resumption of military operations against Iran, according to American officials cited by Axios.
A White House official told the outlet that “all options regarding Iran are available to President Trump at any time”.
A Pentagon official, meanwhile, said the department’s role is to develop military options and present them to President Donald Trump.
Sources indicated that any renewed combat operations against Iran could include strikes on targets in the energy sector, infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
Renewed Military Pressure on Iran
The United States and the Israeli occupation launched attacks against Iran on 28 February 2026, killing thousands of people. Tehran responded with attacks targeting the Israeli occupation and US positions in several countries across the region.
The two sides later reached a ceasefire agreement in April, but the cessation of hostilities did not resolve the disputes between Washington and Tehran.
The United States subsequently resumed attacks on sites inside Iran as efforts to restart negotiations encountered further difficulties.
Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June, but disagreements over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz prevented sustained progress in negotiations.
Nuclear Programme Remains a Major Point of Dispute
As tensions continue, Iran maintains that it has the right to enrich uranium.
Washington, meanwhile, is pressing for restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities as part of any arrangements aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the diplomatic track.
With the Pentagon now reportedly directing US Central Command to complete preparations for renewed operations, Iran’s energy infrastructure, broader infrastructure network and nuclear facilities are among the potential targets under consideration.
