President Donald Trump is weighing options for a new wave of military strikes on Iran following next Tuesday’s midterm elections. While administration officials have briefed Gulf allies on a potential short, high-intensity campaign, senior lawmakers and regional observers warn that the plan risks a devastating escalation of the eight-month-old conflict.
Trump Signals Military Campaign After Midterm Elections
On Thursday, President Trump met at the White House with the head of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper. While the administration has maintained a public focus on diplomacy, diplomats told the Associated Press that Washington has signaled to Gulf Arab nations that they should prepare for a short, intense military campaign
that could begin as early as November 4, the day after the U.S. midterm elections. According to three senior Gulf Arab officials granted anonymity to share sensitive discussions, the administration has briefed regional allies on these plans.
The administration has not finalized a decision on renewed kinetic action. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott insisted that the U.S. will work with partners to ensure that any transnational threat has the appropriate response to protect citizens.
Iran’s conditions have been repeatedly and clearly stated to the mediators. The carrot-and-stick approach has no effect on Iran. Progress can only be achieved once Iran’s seven conditions have been agreed upon.
Senator Murphy’s Warning on War Plans
I will just say this: their plan is insane.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
Murphy noted that the plan reportedly targets a broad range of infrastructure, including Iranian nuclear facilities and civilian energy sites. He expressed concern that such strikes would not only fail to achieve their stated objectives but would also lead to a devastating escalation
and the destruction of our commitment to the rule of law,
potentially prolonging a war that has already lasted more than eight months. Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a former deputy CENTCOM commander, noted that while a short-term approach involving kinetic activity against energy sources and gas refining could be part of an agenda to force regime compliance, hitting such targets would not be wise until Iran institutes strikes on other infrastructure.
US and Israel Plan Attacks as Peace Talks Persist
Nader Hashemi, speaking to Al Jazeera, described this as talking diplomacy while preparing for war,
as the U.S. and Israel have drawn up joint plans to attack Iranian nuclear and military sites.
Trump is reportedly planning to restart war with Iran after the election.Some of us have been briefed on the war plan. And while I cannot disclose any details, I can say this: the plan is insane. It will not achieve objectives and will set off a new cycle of escalation. pic.twitter.com/adWJfHVIok
Despite the tensions, diplomatic efforts persist. Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has been pitching a meeting between Iranian and American officials to resume talks. Vice President JD Vance has reportedly reached out to Iran’s hard-line top security chief to resuscitate peace talks. The attendees of a reported meeting were listed by Iranian media as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Ahmad Vahidi, Iranian armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi, and regular army commander Amir Hatami.
Economic and Geopolitical Stakes
The conflict has exacted a heavy toll on the global economy. Brown University’s Climate Solutions Lab reports that, since the outbreak of war on February 28, U.S. households have spent a collective $147 billion on diesel and gasoline, a figure that averages out to over $1,100 per home. Meanwhile, U.S. oil companies have recorded over $130 billion in profits during the conflict. In Iran, the combination of sanctions and the ongoing war has contributed to massive inflation for basic goods, with over 1 million jobs lost and the rial hitting record lows.
Dockworkers have also begun to push back against the military efforts. On October 30, 2026, dockworkers at 110 ports across 22 countries staged a 24-hour strike, carrying banners that read Workers do not work for war
to protest the transport of military equipment.
SCOOP: The top U.S. commander in the Middle East briefed President Trump Thursday on military options for Iran, a rare in-person visit to the White House as the U.S. weighs resuming major combat operations. W @mgordonwsj @shelbyholliday https://t.co/aFPSg7EtOQ
More on military strikes on Iran
🇺🇸🇮🇷🚢U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of forces in the Middle East, briefed President Trump Thursday on the state of the Iran war, with a focus on the ongoing naval blockade, according to two U.S. officials. My story on @axioshttps://t.co/1DVxTkN8hq
🇮🇷 Senior IRGC official Mohsen Rezaei just laid out Iran's vision for ending the war, promising "Never again" will no longer just be Israel's motto. "Our first point is that if America and Trump aren't punished, any nation will think it can attack Iran and get away with it.…