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US and Israel Military Planning Against Iran

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
5 min read
US and Israel Military Planning Against Iran

The New York Times reported Monday that the United States and Israel are reportedly gearing up for military action against Iran. This isn't some casual planning. They are supposedly in what they called the “most extensive operational planning” since that fragile ceasefire they managed to hold last month.

The officials talking to the paper were anonymous, naturally. But the implication is clear: renewed strikes could be on the table within days. Still, nothing is confirmed. No final decision has been made public. It’s all just planning right now.

This whole thing is happening while diplomacy is completely stalled. Washington and Tehran haven’t managed to sort out the months of conflict that kicked off after those initial US and Israeli strikes back in late February. Negotiations keep breaking down over the usual sticking points—Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief. It just keeps stalling.

Analysts cited in that NYT piece are pointing out the real mess here. Washington is facing some seriously tough military and political choices. Airstrikes are still an option, sure. But experts warn them might not be enough. They might not actually compel Iran to accept whatever the US is demanding.

There’s another, darker possibility floating around. Some are whispering about special forces operations. Targeting Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. That kind of move, though, brings huge operational risks. And domestic backlash? That would be massive, especially given how unpopular this whole war has become at home.

The report actually quoted something about that possibility. They suggested a raid on the uranium stockpile could risk American soldiers’ lives. It could really strain domestic support for what is already an unpopular conflict.

This all comes right after the latest push from President Trump. He’s been hammering the point that Iran needs to move fast. He said, in a post on Truth Social Sunday, that things have to change quickly, or there won’t be anything left. He kept stressing that the clock is ticking.

Meanwhile, CNN also picked up on the back end of this. They said Trump actually met with some senior national security folks over the weekend. They were reviewing military options. Think strikes aimed at energy targets or infrastructure in Iran.

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and special envoy Steve Witkoff were all there for that high-stakes gathering. It felt heavy.

The people familiar with those talks said the Pentagon has updated contingency plans ready. If the President decides to escalate things, they have a framework in place. It’s prepared. Just waiting for the trigger.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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