US warns allies to prepare for possible Iran strikes, retaliation after elections, AP sources say

U.S. officials have told several Middle East countries and regional allies to be prepared for potential renewed military action against Iran after next week's midterm elections, as well as the possibility that Iran will attempt to retaliate against them, according to two diplomats briefed on the matter. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the sensitive warnings conveyed by U.S. diplomats and defense officials.

President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on whether to carry out new strikes against Iran, the diplomats stressed, though he has repeatedly said he is weighing ordering new military action once the Nov. 3 elections are over. The White House and U.S. officials declined to comment. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday in a post on X that Tehran "continues to give diplomacy a chance to succeed" and is working with mediators to review ideas from a proposal floated last month that was summarily rejected by Trump.

The United Arab Emirates foreign ministry issued a statement urging the sides to "exercise wisdom and pursue political solutions to help contain tensions" and prevent a return to full-scale operations in the war that began in late February. The U.S. has told regional allies the new round of military action could last for several days, but officials are bracing for Iran and its proxy groups to retaliate, potentially leading to a longer fight. Allies have also been urged to take precautionary measures in anticipation that Iran's response will include retaliatory strikes on energy facilities and other crucial infrastructure.

It is unclear how soon after Election Day the U.S. military would be ready to potentially resume strikes. The Pentagon late last month deployed the USS Theodore Roosevelt, along with amphibious landing ships with Marines aboard — roughly 9,000 troops in all — from San Diego to the Persian Gulf to bolster the U.S. military presence in the region. One U.S. official said this deployment could lead to an unusually high naval presence of more than 20,000 sailors and Marines, as well as hundreds of aircraft, a level seen only a handful of times in the last two decades.

Sources: Las Vegas Sun