‘Whenever I want it to end’: U.S. tells Middle East allies to prepare for possible new strikes on Iran after the midterms

U.S. officials have warned several Middle Eastern countries and regional allies to brace for potential military action against Iran following the upcoming midterm elections in the United States, according to two unnamed diplomats. President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to initiate new strikes against Iran, but he has indicated that he is considering doing so after the elections.

The diplomats emphasized that Iran could respond with retaliation, which would prolong the conflict. The United Arab Emirates has called for wisdom and political solutions to ease tensions, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran remains open to diplomacy and has proposed a ceasefire, which was rejected by Trump.

The U.S. has deployed a carrier strike group and thousands of troops to the Middle East to bolster its military presence. The conflict has expanded with Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacking Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure, leading to retaliatory strikes by a Saudi-led coalition. The cost of the war for the U.S. has reached $47.1 billion.