The United States has warned several Gulf Arab countries to be prepared for a possible short, intense military campaign against Iran after the US midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people briefed on the conversations.
The warnings, delivered through diplomatic and military channels, are among the latest signs that Washington and Israel are preparing for a possible new round of heavy combat operations against Iran, aimed at degrading Tehran’s strength and pushing it toward negotiations, the Journal reported.
President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, but is leaning toward a large post-election attack that could target Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites, people familiar with his thinking told the newspaper. The alternative, the report said, would be to try to cut a deal, with diplomatic efforts by regional mediators continuing but yet to bear fruit.
What the reported preparations involve
According to the Journal, the US military is sending an additional Patriot missile defence system to Israel from Texas to strengthen its missile defences, and has moved troops off bases in the Middle East considered vulnerable in preparation for an escalation.
US forces in the region have also been restocking munitions, and bomber aircraft and fighter jets are preparing for strikes, the report said. An additional aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit are also poised to join an armada of roughly 20 other warships operating in the Middle East next month, although some ships could rotate out.
The White House declined to comment on what it described as “sensitive military plans that may or may not exist”, while saying Trump keeps all options on the table to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“You’ll see Iran in a couple of weeks”
At a rally last week, Trump referred to the heavy US and Israeli bombing campaign in the spring, saying: “We may do another little Epic Fury. Or they’ll agree.”
The Journal’s report follows earlier reporting by ABC News that the US and Israel were preparing plans for possible renewed attacks on Iran after the midterm elections, and a report in The Hill that US Central Command had prepared several possible military options that could be launched after the November 3 vote, subject to Trump’s approval.
What is known — and what is not
What is confirmed is the report itself: that US officials have told Gulf allies to prepare, and that military preparations described by the Journal are under way. What is NOT confirmed is whether any attack will happen, when it would happen, or what it would target. Trump has not authorised an attack, according to the report, and the administration has not publicly confirmed that a new attack has been authorised.
The warning comes against a backdrop of already-elevated tensions in the region. Oil prices climbed more than 1% on Wednesday, 28 October, after Yemen’s Houthis claimed a missile strike on Saudi Arabia’s biggest refinery — a separate development that renewed concerns about Middle East supply, with Brent crude rising to about $115.47 a barrel, according to Reuters. That price move should not be read as a market reaction to the WSJ warning alone.
Why it matters
For Gulf states hosting US bases and energy infrastructure, the warning raises the prospect of Iranian retaliation in the event of renewed strikes, and of disruption to shipping and energy flows through the region. For US voters, the timing — after the November 3 midterms — links the next phase of the Iran confrontation directly to the election calendar, even as the administration insists its decisions are driven by security, not politics.
Diplomacy has not stopped: regional mediators are still working, the Journal reported, but have yet to produce a deal. The coming days — and what happens after Americans vote on November 3 — will show whether the warnings were preparation, pressure, or a prelude.
FAQ
- Has the US decided to attack Iran? No — the WSJ reports Trump is leaning toward a large post-election attack but has made no final decision.
- When would any campaign happen? After the November 3 midterm elections, according to the warnings reported by the Journal.
- What would it target? Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites, according to people familiar with Trump’s thinking cited by the Journal.
- Has the White House confirmed it? No — it declined to comment on “sensitive military plans that may or may not exist”.
Sources
- The Wall Street Journal — U.S. Warns Gulf of Possible Short, Intense Renewal of Iran War After Midterms — https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-warns-gulf-of-possible-short-intense-renewal-of-iran-war-after-midterms-cd1a55e1
- Khaama Press — US Warns Gulf States of Possible New Iran Strikes After Midterms — https://www.khaama.com/us-warns-gulf-states-possible-iran-strikes-after-midterms/
- Arab Times — Gulf on edge as US weighs massive Iran strikes after midterm elections — https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/gulf-on-edge-as-us-weighs-massive-iran-strikes-after-midterm-elections/
- Israel National News — Report: US tells Gulf allies to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms — https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/435273
- Reuters via Business Times — Oil rises over 1% after Saudi Arabian refinery attack reignites supply risk (context only, 28 Oct) — https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/energy-commodities/oil-rises-over-1-after-saudi-arabian-refinery-attack-reignites-supply-risk
