Report: Trump Briefed on Resuming Iran Strikes After Midterms

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Wednesday he had been briefed on a plan to restart the Iran war after the midterms. He called it insane.

• Adm. Brad Cooper briefed Trump at the White House on Thursday.
• $47 billion war remains stalled, with no ceasefire or peace deal.
• Two diplomats say Trump has not made a final decision on strikes.
• Vance sent a letter to Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei about new talks.

Why it matters: Officials reportedly warned Gulf states to expect a short, intense campaign after Nov. 3. Possible targets include infrastructure and nuclear sites.

• Murphy said the plan would bring escalation and harm U.S. security interests.
• Houthi attacks on Saudi oil sites and airports have widened the conflict.

How 18 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage divides over whether a renewed campaign would pressure Iran into a deal or prolong and widen the war.

What’s next: Iranian officials say they will take a Qatar-brokered nuclear proposal to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

• The proposal would offer UN inspections of nuclear sites in exchange for sanctions relief.
• Trump told reporters he did not direct Vance to open peace talks.
• Will Trump order new strikes, or will Iran accept the nuclear proposal first?
• What targets does the briefed plan include beyond what has been reported?