Trump plans to escalate military operations against Iran, sources say

A potential new operation dubbed 'Sledgehammer' could reset the War Powers clock as leaked intelligence reveals Iran's military resilience despite months of US strikes.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team May. 14, 2026

President Donald Trump has instructed his military advisers to resume major operations against Iran, a significant escalation that comes as ceasefire negotiations have effectively collapsed.

The planned escalation could arrive under a new operational name, reportedly “Operation Sledgehammer,” which would replace the current designation and, critically, reset the 60-day clock under the War Powers Resolution. In English: renaming the mission gives the White House a fresh window to conduct major hostilities without needing explicit Congressional approval.

Previous strikes bought time, not victory

Earlier US military action against Iran, conducted under the name Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, was pitched as a decisive blow to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and military infrastructure. The reality, according to leaked CIA assessments, is considerably less impressive.

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Those strikes only delayed Iran’s nuclear progress by an estimated 9 to 12 months. More troubling for war planners: Iran has regained access to 90% of its missile storage facilities and maintains roughly 70% of its mobile launchers. The CIA’s own internal assessments contradict the administration’s narrative that Iran’s military and economic capacity had been decimated. Iran’s underground missile network is largely back online.

The War Powers maneuver

Under the War Powers Resolution, the president can deploy military force for 60 days without Congressional authorization. After that, lawmakers must either approve the action or the president must withdraw. By launching a nominally “new” operation, the administration would argue the clock resets to day one.

What this means for markets and crypto investors

Iran remains a significant player in global oil supply chains. Any disruption to its production or export capacity, or any conflict that threatens shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, could send crude prices sharply higher.

Energy-sensitive sectors of the crypto market, including mining operations with high electricity costs, could face margin pressure if oil-driven energy prices spike. Meanwhile, stablecoin volumes in regions affected by conflict-related sanctions tend to surge during periods of heightened geopolitical tension.

The gap between the administration’s public statements about Iran’s decimated capacity and the CIA’s internal assessments is the kind of information asymmetry that makes risk pricing nearly impossible. Investors operating on the assumption that the Iran situation was winding down may need to fundamentally reassess that position.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.