- The US has reportedly urged several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a possible military campaign against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections.
- US forces are replenishing munitions, repositioning troops and preparing aircraft as an additional carrier strike group and Marine unit are expected to join forces in the Middle East.
- Trump has not made a final decision, while regional mediators continue efforts to revive negotiations and Tehran warns it would retaliate against targets across the region.
President Donald Trump is weighing a renewed military campaign against Iran after the November 3 US midterm elections, with Washington reportedly warning several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a short, intense period of fighting.
The United States has conveyed the warnings through diplomatic and military channels, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing people briefed on the conversations. The communications come amid growing indications that US and Israeli forces are preparing options for another round of strikes intended to weaken Tehran and push it toward negotiations.
Trump has not made a final decision on whether to launch the attacks, the newspaper reported. However, people familiar with his thinking said he was leaning toward a major post-election operation that could target Iranian infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
The preparations reportedly include moving US troops away from vulnerable bases, replenishing munitions and positioning bomber aircraft and fighter jets for possible strikes. The military is also bringing a Patriot missile defense system from Texas to strengthen regional defenses.
An additional aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit are expected to join roughly 20 US warships operating in the Middle East next month, although some vessels could rotate out, according to the report.
The White House declined to comment on what it described as “sensitive military plans that may or may not exist.”
“President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” it said.
Trump has previously said the US would not resume attacks before the midterm elections. The military movements are intended to preserve options should he decide to proceed, people familiar with the planning told the newspaper. The Defense Department said its responsibility was to provide the president with those options.
What could a renewed US attack target?
Israel has also prepared plans and potential targets for another operation, according to The Wall Street Journal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued to push for renewed strikes, seeking to weaken Iran's military capabilities and, ultimately, threaten the survival of its government.
Trump suggested the possibility of another operation at a rally last week, referring to the US and Israeli bombing campaign earlier this year, which was known as Operation Epic Fury.
“We may do another little Epic Fury,” he said. “Or they’ll agree.”
The possibility of renewed airstrikes would mark a shift from the administration's economic pressure campaign. Sanctions and a naval blockade have restricted Iranian oil sales, disrupted air links and reduced overland trade, adding to pressure on an already struggling economy, the newspaper reported.
Diplomatic efforts have continued, but mediators have yet to secure a breakthrough. US Vice President JD Vance reportedly sent a letter to Iranian Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei seeking to revive peace negotiations, according to the newspaper, which cited US officials and people familiar with the matter.
Some analysts have urged Washington to maintain economic pressure rather than return to combat.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that if the administration believed Iran was rebuilding a military threat, Trump should explain the case publicly.
Otherwise, he argued, the US should maintain sanctions and the blockade rather than resume strikes.
Iran warns of retaliation as escalation risks grow
A renewed campaign could prompt Iran to retaliate against US forces, military installations and economic infrastructure across the region. Tehran has warned through public and private channels that any new attack would be met with strikes against economic and civilian targets.
During the previous conflict, Iran targeted US bases and diplomatic facilities, as well as energy infrastructure and airports across the Gulf. It has also continued to threaten shipping in the Persian Gulf and attack US forces and warships, according to the newspaper.
Despite the damage inflicted by earlier US and Israeli strikes, Iran retains a substantial stockpile of missiles and has used the lull in fighting to strengthen its defenses and prepare for possible retaliation.
Many analysts doubt that further bombing would force Tehran to capitulate. Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military intelligence official, warned that attacks on critical infrastructure or senior officials might not bring down the Iranian government.
Instead, he said, renewed strikes could make the leadership more determined to pursue its missile and nuclear programs.
The potential for retaliation also raises concerns among Gulf countries, which could face risks to energy facilities, shipping and civilian infrastructure if the conflict widens. Additional US military deployments may strengthen defenses, but they would not eliminate the threat of attacks.
The decision facing Trump is therefore not simply whether to launch another operation, but whether military action would achieve a more durable outcome than economic pressure and diplomacy.
For now, preparations are reportedly continuing while regional mediators pursue negotiations. Whether those efforts can produce an agreement before the US midterms remains uncertain, and the administration has not confirmed that a new attack will take place.
