Middle East Conflict: Hegseth Visits Israel as Strike Plans Take Shape

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Israel this week to discuss joint military operations against Iran. Israeli sources indicate that current plans target the country’s petrochemical facilities and nuclear sites. The visit signals that the pause in major combat, which began after the war started on February 28, is temporary rather than final.

The conflict has entered a lull while diplomacy stalls. Both governments are preparing for the next phase of fighting. The White House has stated that the United States will not launch new attacks before the November 3 midterm elections. This timeline effectively sets a start date for the resumption of hostilities. The US naval blockade of Iranian ports has now continued for more than 100 days.

The path to this standoff began with US and Israeli actions over several decades. In 1953, US and British intelligence overthrew Iran’s elected prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, after he nationalized the country’s oil. The US then supported the shah’s regime until 1979. In 2018, President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement. In June 2025, US forces bombed Iranian nuclear sites. In February 2026, the US joined Israel in open war, and opening strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader.

Political developments in Israel and the US have accelerated the momentum for war. On October 18, Trump endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October 27 election. Trump said the US would "finish the job" against Iran only with Netanyahu in charge. On October 21, Netanyahu held a rally in Dimona, the location of Israel’s secret nuclear reactor. He declared that the only way to end the Iranian threat is to overthrow the regime. He stated that he has issued that directive to the army, Mossad, and security services.

Iran has responded by announcing a new offensive doctrine. Iranian commanders plan to use preemptive strikes and attack military bases in neighboring countries that host operations against Iran. They warn that renewed attacks will trigger a global energy crisis. Attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz reached a new peak this month, raising concerns among Gulf states that host US military bases.

Gulf countries are reassessing their security posture. Qatar has called for a regional dialogue involving the Gulf Cooperation Council states, Turkiye, and Pakistan. Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman have maintained mediation channels with Tehran throughout the war. These nations are seeking a framework that includes Iran, Egypt, Iraq, and Turkiye, based on mutual non-aggression and freedom of navigation.

The US naval blockade and the prospect of new strikes have economic implications for the region. The US strategy has relied on positioning Iran as a permanent enemy of the Arab world. Gulf states have accepted this framework while sheltering under American power. The current pause allows these nations to evaluate whether to continue this arrangement or seek regional security agreements that exclude Washington from decision-making processes.