US, Israel Prep to Hit Iran Energy Targets as Trump Weighs Next Move

The United States and Israel are preparing for a possible joint bombing campaign against Iran's energy infrastructure that could begin as soon as this weekend, according to multiple reports, although President Donald Trump has not yet given the final order.

If approved, the strikes would target key power and petroleum facilities, marking a major escalation in the conflict as the administration shifts toward greater military pressure following weeks of faltering ceasefire negotiations.

CBS News reported Friday that U.S. and Israeli officials are preparing plans for what could become one of the largest bombing campaigns against Iranian infrastructure since the conflict began, with potential targets including power plants, refineries, and other energy-related facilities.

Officials discussed whether any operation could be completed before global financial markets open Monday because of concerns about the impact on oil prices and the broader economy, CBS reported, though no final timeline has been established.

Axios previously reported that Trump was seriously considering strikes against Iranian energy targets within days, while The Wall Street Journal reported that the president has grown increasingly skeptical that diplomacy alone will convince Tehran to accept a ceasefire agreement.

The potential strikes were discussed during Trump's Cabinet meeting Friday at Camp David, according to CBS News, as officials weighed options for increasing pressure on Iran.

 

While reporters were present, Trump suggested additional military action could soon follow.

"We'll be hitting them very hard," Trump said.

"At some point, they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore.'"

Asked about the possibility of returning to diplomacy, Trump said, "I think we just want to win."

The White House said Trump's central objective remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"As President Trump said at his Cabinet meeting today, the United States will win, and Iran will not have a nuclear weapon under his watch," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS News.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment on potential targets before a presidential decision but said the military was prepared to act if ordered.

"The Department of War is locked and loaded, ready to execute the president's directives at a moment's notice," Parnell said.

The possible operation would represent a significant expansion of the U.S. campaign against Iran by shifting focus toward infrastructure that supports the country's economy and government operations.

A former U.S. military official told CBS News that targeting energy infrastructure could weaken Iran's ability to provide services, support military operations and maintain internal stability.

CBS reported that officials also discussed the possibility of cutting electricity in Tehran, though no decision had been made as of Friday afternoon.

The discussions come after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Washington and Tehran broke down, with renewed attacks raising concerns that diplomatic efforts could collapse entirely.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has become increasingly doubtful that Iran is negotiating seriously, while officials continue to weigh whether military pressure could force Tehran back to the negotiating table.

Pakistan, which has played a key role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, has insisted that diplomatic efforts remain active despite the renewed fighting.

Pakistani officials have maintained that talks are continuing through back-channel communications and that a negotiated solution remains possible.

The potential U.S.-Israeli operation also raises the possibility of a renewed Iranian response against Israel and U.S. interests throughout the region.

CBS reported that Israel has been notified about the planning and is coordinating with Washington, although an Israeli official told the network that Israel was unaware of a decision to restart full military operations and had not been asked to participate in a new strike campaign.

 

The possibility of Israeli involvement would mark a return to direct offensive operations after Israel paused combat activity during the ceasefire, according to CBS.

Iran has warned that attacks on its critical infrastructure would trigger retaliation.

Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quoted an Iranian security official warning that Tehran had prepared response plans targeting Israeli infrastructure and U.S. energy facilities in the region.

Trump has previously threatened additional strikes against Iranian infrastructure if Tehran attacks commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Last week, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran would face strikes against infrastructure, including bridges or power plants, for attacks on vessels in the strategic waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy chokepoints, with a significant share of global oil shipments passing through the narrow passage.

A decision by Trump to authorize strikes on Iran's energy sector could determine whether the conflict moves back toward negotiations under increased pressure or enters a broader phase focused on attacks against critical economic infrastructure across the Middle East.

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