Washington tells Gulf allies to expect Iran strike after midterms

The United States has cautioned several Gulf Arab nations to prepare for a brief but intense military campaign against Iran following the midterm elections on November 3. A Wall Street Journal report published Wednesday detailed the warning, which was delivered through diplomatic and military channels. Officials indicated that Washington and Jerusalem are readying another series of strikes to pressure Tehran into negotiations.

US military assets are currently being repositioned in the Middle East. Munitions stocks are being replenished, while bomber aircraft and jet fighters undergo final preparations for potential attacks. A Patriot missile defense system is traveling from Texas to Israel to bolster regional defenses. Flight tracking data and two officials confirmed the movement of the system, which includes radar units, launchers, and interceptor missiles.

Naval reinforcements are also en route. An aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit are scheduled to join approximately 20 warships already operating in the region next month. These movements coincide with reports from last week that US troops and diplomats have begun evacuating posts in the Middle East. The State Department ordered a further reduction in staff at diplomatic locations in the area.

The conflict has reached a significant financial milestone. The Pentagon informed Congress last week that the US-Israeli war on Iran, now in its eighth month, has cost $47.1 billion through October 16. This figure represents a rise from the $37.5 billion cited earlier by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Ammunition, including bombs and missiles, accounts for more than 60 percent of those total expenditures.

President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on the timing of a major attack, though he is inclined to launch one targeting Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites. Mediation efforts failed on Sunday when Iran rejected a draft agreement proposed by Qatar. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Qatar presented unacceptable ideas rather than a formal proposal, noting that Tehran will show no flexibility on the nuclear issue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday that any new attack would devastate international markets. He stated that the potential for an Israel-instigated military misadventure in the Persian Gulf remains a major concern for gas suppliers and consumers. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promoting the prospect of new strikes as he seeks re-election. With 85 percent of votes counted, his bloc holds 53 of 120 parliamentary seats.

Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that he will work with Trump to eliminate the existential threat posed by Iran. His main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, also supports strikes combined with economic pressure. Trump previously stated he would not attack Iran before the midterm elections. At a rally in Florida last week, he referenced the possibility of another operation, using the military term Epic Fury for the war.