Trump calls Iran truce a ‘waste of time’ amid strike plans

President Donald Trump said Monday, October 26, that an earlier ceasefire with Iran was "sort of a waste of time." He also praised the US naval blockade and said Washington now had "total control." His comments came as US officials said American forces are ready to launch major new strikes on Iran within days of an order.iranintl.com

Speaking at a Republican campaign rally in Corinth, Mississippi, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, Trump said, "We did a little ceasefire, which I never liked very much. I considered sort of a waste of time, but, you know, you like to listen to professionals" (Iran International; Middle East Eye). He called the blockade "the greatest blockade probably in naval history" and said no Iranian ship had gotten through in months except during the truce. He also said, "Iran started the war with us".middleeasteye.net+1

Strike plans ready

CNN reported, citing two US officials, that US forces in the Middle East could launch new and possibly major operations against Iran "within 96 hours of receiving" an order from Trump, and that enough forces are already in the region. The officials said these operations would likely go beyond limited strikes on radars and launchers. US Central Command and Pentagon leaders have drawn up a target list that includes energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities.cnn.com

Officials said Trump has not decided what to do but appears to be leaning toward major action, most likely after the midterms. They cautioned that he has backed off at the last moment before. CNN also reported that the US asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay his own planned attacks until joint operations are ready. Separately, an October 23 intelligence memo found that Iran had "substantially increased efforts to target US personnel."cnn.com

Tehran's warning

Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, the supreme leader's representative to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said any further US action would be met with a "harsher and more devastating" response than before, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. He said Tehran knows "the enemy's vulnerabilities".the-express.com+1

A collapsed truce

The US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in April, followed by talks sponsored by Pakistan. In June the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding, but it fell apart 21 days later when fighting resumed. Diplomatic efforts are still going on. Officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey met Iran's president and security chief in Tehran, and both sides agreed to keep talking. Tehran, however, accused Washington of not being serious about negotiations.thenewregion.com+1