Gulf Allies Brace for US Strikes on Iran and Iranian Retaliation, WSJ Says

The Wall Street Journal reports that Gulf states expect a heavy US bombardment of Iran, possibly this week. They fear Iran would hit their economic and civilian infrastructure in response, the WSJ said.

The paper said diplomacy has stalled while both sides threaten especially fierce fighting. Gulf governments are preparing for the worst.

Trump Weighs a Large Strike

The WSJ said Trump leans toward a large attack after Tuesday’s midterms. It could hit Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites, but he has not decided.

On Saturday, Trump told Benjamin Netanyahu he wanted to give diplomacy a chance first, the WSJ’s sources said. Netanyahu pressed for strikes right after the midterms. Israel’s military has prepared plans.

Axios first reported the call, as we covered. Netanyahu’s office did not respond to the WSJ, and the White House did not immediately respond.

Trump spoke at a rally in Iowa on Sunday. “The only reason why I’m not finished with Iran is I want to be nice,” he said, JNS reported. “But at some point we’re going to have to give them the hammer.”

The WSJ noted that Trump has ramped up threats before, most recently in late July. He then backed down hoping for a deal.

Iranian officials say any response would be unrestrained. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is willing to keep talking, as we reported.

Brent crude futures fell more than 6% on hopes of an accord, the WSJ said.

Gulf States Prepare

Qatar and the UAE have run security drills, including at airports, the WSJ reported. Attendees at a major Abu Dhabi energy conference cut short their stays on government advice. Schools in Riyadh stay online this week.

The Dutch and Belgian embassies in the region warned on Thursday that conditions could worsen quickly. Saudi Arabia is also under fire from Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

UAE adviser Anwar Gargash said the country hopes diplomacy works but is “braced for the worst.” He spoke at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Reuters reported.

Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, said another round would be more destructive. He said the coming days or weeks are critical to heading it off.

Gulf states fear attacks worse than at the war’s height in March, the WSJ said. Iran cannot blunt US and Israeli airstrikes, so it aims to raise the stakes fast by hitting its neighbors.

Analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu told the WSJ that Iran will not absorb a short, sharp US strike. He expects a US infrastructure campaign to draw one from Tehran.

Some Arab states have warned Iran they could retaliate, alone or together, mediators told the WSJ. The UAE struck Iran in the spring, while other Gulf states largely sat out the fighting.

US Forces Get Ready

The US military has prepared options, the WSJ said. It is restocking munitions and moving troops out of vulnerable bases. Another Patriot system is headed to Israel.

Adm. Brad Cooper briefed Trump in person on Thursday, the WSJ had reported. The top US commander in the region rarely does that.

Earlier, we reported that Hegseth ousted a top military planner as Trump weighed new strikes.

Reuters cited four European officials who said US forces are in place to strike at short notice. Reuters said any attack would likely target nuclear sites, citing two of them.

Diplomacy Is Stuck

Tehran politely welcomed a late-October letter from Vice President JD Vance to security chief Mohsen Rezaei. It has not formally replied or agreed to a meeting, mediators told the WSJ. Rezaei spoke with Putin on Monday, Fars reported.

Talks in the Qatar-mediated channel are stuck on who concedes first, the mediators said. Qatar’s revised plan would cut the Hormuz confidence-building period from seven days to two, Iran said.

One idea would see the US ease its naval blockade if Iran halts attacks on shipping for agreed days. Iran would then readmit nuclear inspectors and discuss its enriched uranium stockpile, per the WSJ. Some sanctions would lift after inspections.

We covered Araghchi’s two-day Hormuz plan earlier.

The US is reluctant to lift the blockade before clear nuclear progress. Mediators said it fears Iran would rush bottled-up oil out of the Gulf. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that nuclear issues were not discussed.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi returned to Tehran from Doha on Sunday. Talks did not yield enough progress to trigger a visit by US negotiators, mediators said.

Last week, Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials went to Tehran. They offered to discuss a regional security deal if Iran joined nuclear talks, people briefed said. Our report covers the visit.

Saudi Arabia also asked Iran to help rein in the Houthis, the WSJ said. Hours later, the Houthis launched drones and missiles at Riyadh and Ras Tanura. Saudi authorities said they intercepted missiles, and Dawn noted that Aramco did not confirm a hit.

Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group said “an escalation seems inevitable.” He said things “will get nasty very quickly.”

Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon separately said no one is discussing a nuclear strike, as we reported.