Pentagon says it can hit Iran within four days of a presidential order

The United States has positioned its military to execute a large scale attack on Iran within 96 hours of a presidential directive. Two US officials told CNN on Sunday that forces are ready to move immediately if President Donald Trump gives the order.

The readiness level indicates a major operational shift, even though no final political decision has been made. The officials noted that Trump has not yet decided whether to commit to such action after the upcoming US midterm elections. They described the potential campaign as a big effort that would go well beyond previous US strikes on Iranian assets like missile launchers and radars.

Israel has been preparing for a possible strike and lobbying Washington to join in, according to one source briefed on the matter. US officials, including Trump, reportedly told Israel to hold off until the midterms have passed. The source said the plans are ready and waiting for Trump's approval, which could come after the elections.

US intelligence assessments suggest that Iran and the Houthis are taking the threat of renewed US attacks seriously. Two sources told CNN that any strike launched by the United States or Israel would trigger immediate retaliation against American personnel and facilities across the Middle East.

This risk is driving plans to pull additional US personnel out of embassies in the region. However, a source familiar with the intelligence said officials believe Iran and the Houthis are unlikely to strike US or Israeli infrastructure preemptively at this stage. The expectation is that these actors are positioned to respond rather than to initiate an attack.

The White House declined to comment on the reporting. A senior Pentagon official told CNN that the Department is a planning organization and that its job is to develop and execute military options ordered by the President.