Trump requests plans to return to fighting Iran and clarifies his statements about destroying American cities

Washington - Ofoq News - The New York Times reported that US President Donald Trump asked the US Department of Defense to prepare plans for options for resuming military operations against Iran, including targeting its arsenal of drones, missiles, energy facilities and other military sites, at a time when he said that the strikes would not resume before the midterm elections scheduled for November 3.

According to the report, Trump is reconsidering new military options despite his rejection, in recent months, of proposals made by American security officials to carry out large-scale operations against Iran or against the Houthi group in Yemen, an ally of Tehran.

The report stated that security officials put forward these proposals on five occasions during the past months, but Trump rejected them every time. However, the US President returned to discussing a new attack plan that was discussed last Friday at Camp David.

The newspaper quoted people familiar with the plan as saying that one of the proposed options is to implement a “short and intense campaign lasting about three days,” targeting Iranian sites, as part of preparing for options for returning to fighting.

Trump clarifies his statements about the destruction of American cities

In separate statements, Trump sought to clarify his words about the possible destruction of American cities, after his statements about Los Angeles and San Diego sparked criticism from Democratic leaders in California and some Republicans.

Trump made these statements during a political rally in Nebraska on Monday, in the context of his talk about the economic sacrifices that Americans bear due to the war and high fuel prices.

He said at the time: “Remember, the war is fabricated, and its price is a little high, but it is a small price. It is a small price to pay for maintaining the security of the world, and the security of our country. They can destroy a city. Let them destroy Los Angeles, let them destroy San Diego. It is a very small price, and it will be over very soon.”

The statements sparked angry reactions, as leaders from the California Democratic Party, along with some Republicans, criticized them.

In an attempt to clarify his meaning, Trump wrote in a post on the “Truth Social” platform that his speech was not a call to accept the destruction of American cities, but rather he was indicating that the temporary increase in gasoline prices represents a limited price compared to preventing Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon.

Trump said: “What I was talking about is that a temporary increase in the price of gasoline is a small price to pay for Iran not having a nuclear weapon.”

“If you want to see a high price, can you imagine what it would be like if they bombed San Diego and/or Los Angeles?” he added, noting that he loves both cities.

These statements come at a time when discussions continue regarding US military options towards Iran, between the preparation of possible plans to resume operations and Trump’s public statements regarding the timing of any new strikes.