Trump Said The U.S. Won’t Attack Before The Midterms. But Forces Had Reportedly Briefed Israel on The Possibility.

The United States briefed the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff on the possibility that it could resume military operations against Iran before the end of the month, according to a new report.

Eyal Zamir said during the call that such a scenario could lead to the postponement of Israel's elections on October 27, as Israel believes Iran would seek to strike Israel as a result, Axios noted.

President Donald Trump rejected the notion on Thursday. In a social media publication, Trump said the U.S. is having "productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran." And that "while Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait (22 Million Barrels, last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, Iran!), we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd."

Different reports claimed that Trump and his national security team discussed resuming the campaign against Tehran in the coming weeks. Axios also detailed that the Pentagon instructed the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to conclude preparations to that end.

The outlet went on to cite sources familiar with the matter, who said that if the campaign resumes it will include large bombings of Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear targets. It also recalled that Trump had said he hadn't made a decision on whether to attack Iran 24 hours before beginning strikes, and he had already made a decision by then.

A White House official reacted to the report saying that the U.S. "is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing."

"Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way," the official added.

Trump, on his end, said at a campaign rally in Texas on Wednesday that Tehran is in the brink of collapse. "I think the deal isn't really something that I want to do, but they're willing to offer us anything to stop," Trump claimed.

Attacks against tankers in the Strait of Hormuz reached a record for the U.S.-Iran war last week, new data showed.