Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to launch a new large-scale military operation against Iran earlier this month, but US President Donald Trump blocked the plan amid concerns that it could reignite the war ahead of America’s November 3 midterm elections.

Netanyahu instructed the Israeli military to prepare a multi-day bombing campaign for October 10. The proposed targets reportedly included Iranian nuclear facilities, power plants, other civilian infrastructure and sites linked to the country’s leadership, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The planned offensive was expected to be more intense than the joint US-Israeli military campaign launched in February.

The operation was ultimately postponed following Trump’s opposition. Another wave of strikes could take place in the coming weeks, potentially involving both Israel and the US.

“Either there will be a deal or there will be an attack,” the source said, suggesting that Washington hopes to pressure Tehran into reaching an agreement on its nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli officials have also reportedly presented their US counterparts with an updated list of potential targets in Iran, based on recently obtained intelligence. The list includes civilian infrastructure that was not struck during the previous operation.

Another source familiar with the situation suggested that Israel’s military preparations could also be intended to increase pressure on Iran during negotiations. The source emphasized that the final decision on whether to resume military operations rests with Trump.