U.S. officials have told several Middle East countries and allies to prepare for possible renewed military action against Iran after the 3 November midterm elections, and for possible Iranian retaliation against them. Naharnet reported this on 29 October, citing two anonymous diplomats.
The two diplomats said President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on new strikes. Trump has repeatedly said he is weighing new military action once the elections are over. The White House and U.S. officials declined to comment on the reported warnings.
According to the report, the U.S. told allies that a new round of action could last several days. Regional officials expect Iran and its proxy groups to retaliate, which could prolong the fighting. U.S. officials also urged allies to take precautions in case Iran's response includes strikes on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure. It is unclear how soon after Election Day the U.S. military would be ready to resume strikes.
Naharnet said the Wall Street Journal reportedly said earlier that Gulf nations were being briefed to prepare for possible U.S. escalation.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said in a Wednesday post on X that Tehran "continues to give diplomacy a chance to succeed". He said Iran is working with mediators to review ideas from a proposal it floated last month, which Trump rejected. He said Iran wants that proposal to be the basis for a return to a ceasefire.
The United Arab Emirates foreign ministry issued a statement urging the sides to "exercise wisdom and pursue political solutions to help contain tensions". It also urged them to prevent a return to full-scale operations in the war, which began in late February.
The U.S. has not struck Iran since early September, but the conflict has spread. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. A Saudi-led coalition has responded with deadly attacks on Houthi-held areas of Yemen.
Late last month, the Pentagon sent the USS Theodore Roosevelt and several amphibious ships with Marines, roughly 9,000 troops in all, from San Diego to the Persian Gulf. A U.S. official said at the time that this could bring the naval presence to more than 20,000 sailors and Marines plus hundreds of aircraft.
At a campaign stop in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday, Trump recounted a question he had been asked: "Somebody asked me before, when will the war in Iran end?" He said it could end "in a couple of weeks, if you don't mind." He also said it would end whenever he wants. Trump has also threatened a new round of bombing after the election.
Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said the region fears Iran could act provocatively before the election, especially if it believes U.S. action is imminent. He asked: "Why would they wait until after the elections here ... if they could initiate it and potentially gain the upper hand?"
The Pentagon's latest estimate to Congress puts the cost of the Iran war to U.S. taxpayers at $47.1 billion. Naharnet's report said the war and the resulting rise in gasoline prices are weighing on Republican candidates in the midterm campaign.
Separately, reports emerged late Wednesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. An anonymous defense official said no reason was given and no immediate replacement has been named.