Press reports: Trump discusses dismissing defense leaders and military options against Iran after the elections

According to press reports, President Donald Trump is holding consultations with close associates about the possibility of dismissing Defense Secretary Bet Heghsith and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Kin, against the backdrop of the ongoing war with Iran and its potential effects on the results of the congressional midterm elections.

The reports said Trump's displeasure partly stems from earlier promises that the conflict would not continue until the elections, and that the continuation of military operations has raised fears that this would negatively affect the Republican Party's chances of retaining majorities in both the House and the Senate.

Reports indicate the administration is studying a range of military options that could be activated after the elections, ranging from limited strikes lasting hours to a wide campaign that could extend for weeks, with the possibility of targeting Iran's nuclear program or expanding operations to include air defense systems and infrastructure.

The reports said a meeting was held last week at the White House that brought together the Defense Secretary, the Joint Chiefs chair and U.S. Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper to discuss scenarios that would allow the president to declare victory in the war, according to the accounts.

On U.S.–Israeli relations, reports said a tense phone call took place between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the course of negotiations with Iran and the possible timeline for resuming military operations. The reports said Netanyahu pressed for strikes to be carried out immediately after the elections while Trump preferred to give more time for negotiations, according to two U.S. and Israeli sources.

The reports added that among the options being considered was continuing the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz while keeping the threat of military escalation in place, or ending that course and relying on air strikes or other limited operations.

On the diplomatic track, it was noted that Senator J.D. Vance sent a message to Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei proposing the resumption of direct talks between Washington and Tehran provided the nuclear file be placed on the agenda from the start, without specifying any potential concessions for Iran.

The report said Bet Heghsith faces criticism from some of Trump's close associates who accuse him of offering overly optimistic assessments of how the war is progressing, and quoted a presidential adviser as saying that Heghsith "is good at telling the president what he wants to hear."

It also noted that the defense secretary recently dismissed the Joint Chiefs planning director, Brig. Gen. Brett Silvia, in the context of investigations into security leaks, and that more than twenty generals and admirals have left their posts during Heghsith's tenure as defense secretary.

The reports conclude by emphasizing that U.S. military preparations for the possibility of escalating operations against Iran coincide with rising disagreements within the U.S. administration and concerns about the effects of the war on Washington's political landscape and the midterm election results.