Trump advisers see eight-week window for new Iran military operation

Some of US President Donald Trump's advisers believe he has about eight weeks to launch a new large-scale military operation against Iran, Russia's state news agency TASS reported on Saturday.

The sources said the timing matters because Democrats are set to take control of both houses of Congress in January, which could bring investigations and a resolution demanding an end to hostilities.

Some US officials said Trump should order the resumption of strikes within weeks.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is among those pushing to expand the military campaign, the sources said, blaming the current deadlock on officials who persuaded Trump in April to suspend hostilities and sign a memorandum of understanding with Tehran.

Those officials include Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, the sources said.

Hegseth still believes the United States needs a new large-scale operation against the Islamic Republic, but some of Trump's advisers think such a move would undermine efforts to reach a peace deal, the network reported.

Trump said on Friday that progress had been made in consultations between the United States and Iran on ending the conflict.

Separately, Fox News reported that the United States is considering resuming military operations against Iran on Nov. 9.

The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28.

In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding providing for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

On the night of July 8, the United States resumed large-scale strikes against Iran, accusing it of violating agreements on the Strait of Hormuz.

The strait carries about 25% of the world's oil trade and about 20% of its liquefied natural gas trade.

The administration later signaled a shift away from large-scale military force toward economic pressure on Iran through sanctions.