The Storm Returns US and Israel Prepare for a Second Wave Against Iran

The Storm Returns: US and Israel Prepare for a Second Wave Against Iran
The fragile calm that has settled over the Persian Gulf since the April ceasefire may be coming to an end.
According to a report by The New York Times published on May 17th, 2026, the United States and Israel are actively preparing military contingency plans for a possible new round of strikes against Iran — a campaign being referred to by planners as Operation Epic Fury 2.0, or a second phase of the original operation that began on February 28th.
According to The New York Times, top US officials have drafted plans for renewed strikes against Iran if Trump decides diplomacy has failed. The report said US and Israeli forces are carrying out their largest preparations since the April 7th ceasefire, with possible renewed attacks being discussed as early as next week. Iran International
The options being examined by military planners are wide-ranging and serious. They include expanded strikes on Iranian military and air bases, targeting of underground nuclear facilities, and the possible deployment of special operations forces into Iranian territory to secure or remove highly enriched uranium believed to be hidden beneath damaged nuclear sites. Military officials have warned that such a commando operation carries extreme risk and would require significant troop numbers. Also on the list of potential targets are Iran's oil export islands — critical hubs in the Persian Gulf that, if struck, analysts warn could severely disrupt global oil supplies and send prices soaring.
On May 17th, Trump warned that Iran faces a pressing timeline, stating that "there won't be anything left of them" if actions are not taken soon. The same day, Axios reported that Trump will meet with national security advisors on May 19th to discuss potential military action against Iran. U.S. Department of State
The escalation in planning comes directly after the failure of multi-party diplomatic talks backed by China, which aimed to convert the fragile ceasefire into a durable agreement covering Iran's nuclear program and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has continued linking any reopening of the waterway to an end to the US naval blockade on Iranian ports. Netanyahu has also warned the war is "not over," insisting Iran's nuclear material and enrichment sites must still be eliminated before the conflict can truly end. Wikipedia
Trump's posture hardened noticeably after returning from China, where he held talks with President Xi Jinping. Trump said the US and China agreed that "Iran can't have nuclear weapons" and that the Strait of Hormuz must be opened. "We control the strait, and they have done no business in the last two and a half weeks, which is approximately $500 million a day," Trump said. Wikipedia
On the Iranian side, the parliamentary security committee chair announced that Tehran is developing a new system to manage maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian authority