The Trump administration, along with its Israeli allies, is actively preparing to resume military strikes on Iran as early as this week, The New York Times reports, citing informed sources. According to the newspaper, the Pentagon is considering resuming the previously suspended Operation Epic Fury in the coming days.

However, planners face a serious dilemma. American and Israeli warplanes may resume striking Iranian targets, but bombing alone will not be enough to force Tehran to comply with US demands. Washington insists on ending Iran's nuclear program and opening the Strait of Hormuz.

As the NYT notes, the US and Israel could conduct a ground operation to seize Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. According to the IAEA, up to 500 kilograms of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels could be buried under the rubble of the Isfahan facility following the US bombing in February 2026. This amount is enough to build approximately ten nuclear weapons. However, such an operation could cost the lives of American soldiers, further weakening support for a war already unpopular within the US.

Earlier, Trump's advisers and Pentagon officials were finalizing plans for a possible operation involving large-scale bombing of Iran's underground nuclear facilities and special forces raids. Negotiations between the US and Iran reached an impasse, with Tehran presenting its 14-point peace plan, which Trump called "completely unacceptable." Meanwhile, according to US intelligence, Iran retains approximately 70% of its pre-war missile arsenal and control over 90% of its underground storage facilities.

As another tool of pressure, Trump imposed new sanctions against Iran. According to the order, any country or company that purchases Iranian oil or facilitates the illegal export of Iranian oil in any quantity will be completely cut off from the US financial system and will lose access to the US market.