Trump Plans Iran Strikes as Soon as Nov. 4, Gulf Officials Say
Trump is planning to resume strikes on Iran as soon as Nov. 4, the day after the U.S. midterms, according to three senior Gulf Arab officials cited by MS NOW. Washington has told Gulf allies to prepare for a short, intense campaign. The Gulf states are pushing for de-escalation.
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President Donald Trump is planning to resume strikes on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections, MS NOW reports. Three senior Gulf Arab officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the strikes could start as soon as Nov. 4.
The report is unconfirmed by Washington. A White House official told MS NOW: “We do not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist.” The official added that Trump “keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
What Gulf Allies Were Told
The Trump administration has briefed Gulf allies to prepare for a short, intense round of strikes, according to the three officials. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on the briefings. Clash Report covered the first warnings earlier this week.
Two former administration officials told MS NOW that Trump wants a decisive blow. “He’s been convinced that with this final attack we can get a deal with the Iranians, or we can finally destroy their nuclear program,” one said. Trump has also named Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried site tied to Iran’s nuclear program, as a possible target.
Gulf States Fear Retaliation
Washington’s Gulf allies are pushing hard to de-escalate. They worry about how Iran will retaliate. One Gulf official told MS NOW they “would not be surprised” if some Gulf states resisted U.S. strikes launched from bases on their soil.
Iran has already warned of the cost. Tehran has threatened Gulf airports and pipelines if the United States and Israel resume attacks. Iranian security officials also told Reuters they have drawn up plans to hit Gulf undersea cables.
The U.S. has moved extra Patriot batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It has ordered most government employees to leave Saudi Arabia. It has also cut staffing at missions in Lebanon, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan.
Diplomacy Continues in Parallel
Trump said on Friday that the war “is going to be over very soon.” He told a Kansas City radio station: “We’re knocking the hell out of them.” Last week he said the U.S. may do “another little Epic Fury,” “or they’ll agree.”
Diplomacy has not stopped. Vice President JD Vance recently sent a letter to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei, proposing a meeting to resume talks, MS NOW reports. Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday with a seven-day plan of confidence-building steps. Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are involved.
Iran is not yet on board. A senior Iranian official told Reuters this week that Qatar had brought only “unacceptable” ideas.
Forces Arrive After the Vote
The U.S. is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group, led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt, toward the Middle East. About 9,000 sailors and Marines are aboard, MS NOW reports. U.S. officials say the force will arrive at the end of November.
The U.S. has not struck Iran since Sept. 1. Trump has pledged no new attacks before the midterms. No final decision has been announced.
The politics are tricky. A recent Pew survey finds 65% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war. Republican voters are increasingly split. Sen. Chris Murphy, who attended a classified briefing, calls the plan “insane.” He says it could include civilian infrastructure and prolong the war.
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