Trump warns of potential ‘Epic Fury’ military operation against Iran

US President Donald Trump on Friday suggested Washington may carry out another military operation against Iran, dubbed ‘Epic Fury,’ as the war nears its eight-month mark and rising fuel prices weigh on the US midterm elections.Speaking at a rally in Florida, Trump said, “We may do another little Epic Fury,” without elaborating. On Thursday, he accused Iran on Truth Social of fabricating reports of attacks on oil tankers and naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz to drive up oil prices.The New York Times reported on Thursday that the US and Israeli militaries have developed plans for renewed strikes to begin after the midterms, citing US officials and individuals briefed on the matter.Trump’s remarks in Florida underscored the possibility of renewed military action against Iran. According to The New York Times, these strikes would be short but intense, likely focusing on Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and weapons.Officials told The New York Times that Washington and Jerusalem were close to ordering new strikes earlier this month before Trump reportedly decided against the move at the last minute. On October 16, Trump confirmed in an interview with Newsmax that Washington is weighing strikes on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site if military operations are renewed.The US and Israel launched an aerial war on Iran on February 28, 2026, which led Iran to halt shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also reportedly laid naval mines and attacked merchant vessels in the Strait. On October 22, 2026, Iran claimed seven oil tankers were attacked or damaged in the Strait of Hormuz, though these claims have not been independently confirmed.The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated its right to attack any vessel attempting to cross the Strait without its permission or with transponders turned off. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operation Centre (UKMTO), 12 ships were attacked in the seven days leading up to October 19, 2026.Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear agency, said on Friday that he expects the use of nuclear power could more than triple by 2060. Presenting the IAEA’s annual report to the UN General Assembly, Grossi attributed this growth to electrification, data centers powered by artificial intelligence, and “technology companies’ appetite for reliable, carbon-free power.”Grossi noted that a growing number of countries view nuclear energy as key to improving their energy security, stressing that it is on par with solar energy and “safer than every other option.” He stated that in 2025, over 400 operating reactors in more than 30 countries produced 10 percent of global electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon electricity.Regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Grossi informed UN member nations that the necessary technical work for a diplomatic agreement has been completed. “I call on the parties to redouble their efforts toward agreeing a diplomatic solution that includes the IAEA’s indispensable verification role, without which no agreement can be sustainable,” he said. Grossi emphasized that IAEA inspectors must be able to return to Iran expeditiously, which requires a return to the negotiating table.Satellite imagery analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on September 9, 2026, indicated an increase in construction at Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site this year. The actual purpose of this site remains disputed; Iran claims it is for centrifuge production and assembly, but inspectors have not been granted full access.At the Florida rally, Trump also suggested that US warships returning from the Iran war could stop over in Cuba, reviving his earlier interventionist ideas for the nearby country. Trump remarked, “We’ll do a little stopover,” and indicated that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be sent “to finish up the deal.”Both Trump and Rubio have been bullish on action in Cuba. Rubio stated that Cuba has been a national security threat for years due to its ties to US adversaries. While the Trump administration aims to resolve differences with Cuba peacefully, Rubio expressed doubts about reaching a diplomatic resolution with the island’s current government.In May 2025, Trump and Rubio raised the specter of US military intervention in Cuba. On April 17, 1961, the Bay of Pigs invasion, a CIA-sponsored paramilitary operation, was defeated by Cuban forces within two days. Cuba has faced an economic and energy crisis since 2020, leading to blackouts, food shortages, and inflation. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans have migrated, many to the United States.The US midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026, and their outcome will significantly influence the Trump administration’s future policies. Israel also has elections on October 27, which could impact Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s power. Grossi has urged parties to redouble efforts for a diplomatic solution and for IAEA inspectors to return to Iran, necessitating a return to the negotiating table.