U.S. officials have told several Middle East countries and regional allies to prepare for possible renewed military action against Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, along with the chance that Iran will retaliate against them, two diplomats said.
The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the warnings. They said President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on new strikes, though he has repeatedly said he is weighing action once the elections are over. The White House and U.S. officials declined to comment.
The U.S. has told allies that a new round of military action could last several days. Regional officials expect Iran and its proxy groups to respond, possibly with strikes on energy facilities and other key infrastructure, which could extend the fighting. Allies have been urged to take precautionary steps.
The U.S. has not struck Iran since early September, but the conflict has widened. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure and airports, and a Saudi-led coalition has responded with strikes in Yemen. The Pentagon recently sent the USS Theodore Roosevelt and several amphibious ships with about 9,000 troops to the Persian Gulf.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran still wants to give diplomacy a chance. The war, which began in late February, has also pushed up gasoline prices, a factor Republican candidates are facing as voters head to the polls. The Pentagon estimates the war’s cost to taxpayers at $47.1 billion.
