Iran is Also Threatening to Ramp Up Attacks if Targeted. It Will go After Civilian Infrastructure.

Different reports have claimed that Israel and the U.S. have drawn up plans to resume attacks against Iran after their elections, which will take place on October 27 and November 3, respectively. Tehran is addressing the possibility, saying it will ramp up its own plans if that scenario materializes.

Officials have warned in private and public and it will not only target U.S. bases and warships, but also airports, pipelines and other infrastructure used with civilian purposes, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebbi also said that it will escalate hostilities further if targeted. "If a country attacks us, we will both respond and go on the offensive," he said, noting that the previous doctrine was defensive and focused on responding to attacks, but will now be asymmetric.

Elsewhere, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said there won't be any more talks with the U.S. until "all threats and sanctions in practice" are eliminated. "Dialogue with the language of threats and pressure makes no sense," he added in a social media publication.

There are no prospects of renewed talks. In fact, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to resume attacks against Iran earlier this month but Trump prevented him from doing so, according to a new report.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Financial Times noted that the Israel Defense Forces was ready to conduct strikes on the weekend of October 10. They would have targeted nuclear infrastructure as well as energy targets, including energy plants used with civilian purposes.

However, the outlet added, Trump did not give the green light as he is not seeking a resumption of the conflict before the midterms. New reports have detailed that the countries have drawn up plans for renewed attacks after the elections.

Iran has also been increasing the pace of attacks against vessels seeking to cross the Strait of Hormuz, claiming on Thursday that it hit seven vessels. Should the figure be confirmed officially, it would be the largest for a single day since the war began in late February.

Oil prices are climbing as a result even though oil exports from the Persian Gulf have surpassed levels recorded before the war as U.S. protection, alternative pipelines and lucrative shipping deals keep crude moving despite attacks on tankers.

Flows through Hormuz and alternative regional routes averaged more than 24 million barrels daily during the week ended October 18, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited ship-tracking company Kpler. That exceeded the prewar average of 23.3 million barrels.