US and Israel Prepare Potential Strikes on Iranian Energy Infrastructure as Tehran Threatens Retaliation

The United States and Israel are preparing for a possible joint bombing campaign targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, with strikes that could begin as soon as this weekend, according to multiple sources familiar with the planning, while Iranian officials have warned of retaliatory attacks on American and Israeli energy assets if such operations proceed.

President Donald Trump has not issued a final order but is actively considering the escalation. During a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, Trump expressed growing skepticism about the prospects for diplomacy and stated that the United States intends to “win.” He told advisers the U.S. would be “hitting them very hard” until Iran reaches a point where it “just can’t take it anymore.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the administration’s position, saying the United States will ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon under Trump’s watch. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the military remains “locked and loaded” and ready to execute presidential directives on short notice.

Sources briefed on the discussions indicated that potential targets include power plants, refineries, and other energy-related facilities critical to Iran’s economy, military operations, and domestic stability. Officials have examined options that could disrupt electricity supplies in major population centers, including Tehran. The timing of any operation has been weighed against possible effects on global oil markets, with some consideration given to completing major strikes before markets open on Monday. The planning represents a significant expansion of the ongoing campaign against Iranian targets, which has already involved hundreds of strikes following the breakdown of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire earlier this summer.

An Israeli official told CBS News that Israel had not been formally notified of a final decision to restart large-scale joint operations and had not yet been asked to participate in a new campaign. Coordination between the two allies continues as both prepare for possible Iranian responses.

In response to reports of the planning, a senior Iranian security official told the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency that Tehran has prepared extensive response plans. The official declared that if critical Iranian infrastructure is attacked, Iran is ready to target Israeli infrastructure and U.S. energy facilities in the region. Dismissing Western media accounts of potential strikes as “a kind of madness,” the official asserted that Iranian forces have demonstrated both the capability and the willingness to carry out such operations. The conditional threat reflects Iran’s defiant posture amid the prolonged conflict.

The latest developments occur against the backdrop of intermittent fighting that resumed after a temporary pause intended to allow renewed negotiations. Trump has previously threatened to strike Iranian bridges or power plants in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint. Pakistan has continued mediation efforts through back channels, but U.S. officials have indicated limited confidence that Iran is negotiating in good faith.

Any decision to proceed with energy infrastructure strikes would mark one of the most consequential escalations of the conflict to date, carrying risks of wider regional retaliation, disruption to oil supplies, and further strain on diplomatic channels. As of late Friday, the final authorization remained with the president, with military forces positioned to act if ordered.