World
Fresh Iran War After November Midterms? US Warns Gulf States Of Possible 'Short, Intense' Strikes
By: News18 World
Published: 28 October 2026
Photo / Illustration: Haldwani Times News Desk
<p>The United States has warned several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a possible “short, intense" military campaign against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people briefed on the discussions.</p>
<p>The report comes amid growing signs that Washington and Israel are preparing for a fresh round of strikes against Tehran, even as diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations continue.</p>
<p>According to the WSJ report, the communications were conveyed through diplomatic and military channels and form part of a broader set of preparations for a possible escalation. US forces are reinforcing missile defences in the region, moving personnel away from bases vulnerable to Iranian attacks and replenishing munitions. The US is also sending an additional Patriot air-defence battery to Israel from Texas, the report said.</p>
<p>The preparations suggest that US President Donald Trump is weighing a return to military action as a way to weaken Iran’s capabilities and push it back to the negotiating table. However, the report said Trump has not made a final decision on whether to authorise fresh strikes. The White House declined to comment on what it described as “sensitive military plans that may or may not exist", while reiterating that Trump had kept all options open to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.</p>
<p>The potential military escalation comes after months of economic pressure on Iran, with tighter US sanctions and a naval blockade restricting Iranian oil sales, air links and overland trade, the WSJ reported. Washington has sought to use these measures to weaken Tehran’s position and compel it to negotiate over its nuclear programme, but efforts to restart talks have so far made little headway.</p>
<p>The prospect of renewed strikes also comes amid concerns over Iran’s missile capabilities and the status of its nuclear programme. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the agency had not identified any activity to repair or reconstruct nuclear facilities damaged in US and Israeli attacks in 2025 and 2026. However, he said inspectors had not been granted access to the affected sites, leaving the agency unable to verify the status of Iran’s nuclear-material stockpile.</p>
<p>Iran, meanwhile, has warned that any fresh attack would trigger retaliation against economic and civilian targets across the region. Despite damage inflicted during the earlier fighting, Tehran retains a stockpile of missiles and has used the lull to strengthen its defences and prepare for possible retaliation, according to the WSJ.</p>
<p>The risks of another round of fighting extend beyond the battlefield. Analysts cited by the WSJ cautioned that further strikes may not force Tehran to capitulate and could instead harden its resolve to pursue its missile and nuclear programmes. The report also noted that Trump could use a fresh wave of attacks to claim that Iran’s capabilities had been weakened and reduce US involvement, without necessarily delivering a decisive or lasting setback to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to authorize fresh military strikes against Iran. While the White House declined to comment on sensitive military plans, it reiterated that Trump has kept all options open to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.</p>
<p>International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi reported that the agency identified no activity to repair or reconstruct nuclear facilities damaged during US and Israeli attacks in 2025 and 2026. However, inspectors were not granted access to the affected sites, leaving the agency unable to verify the status of Iran's nuclear-material stockpile.</p>
