US Sends Warships as Trump Weighs Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Sites After Midterms
The Pentagon has handed President Donald Trump options for military action against Iran, including strikes on nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure, as Washington deploys additional warships to the Middle East.
The United States and Israel are preparing for a possible third round of direct military conflict with Iran, with plans for renewed strikes that would likely target the country's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone arsenal, according to reports [269672][267904]. The timing of any military action appears tied to two upcoming votes: the US midterm elections and Israel's general elections [269672].
The Pentagon has presented President Donald Trump with options for possible military action against Iran, including strikes on nuclear facilities and infrastructure, though no final decision has been announced [270376]. The United States is also sending additional warships to the Middle East as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high [270376].
Iran has issued a direct warning to the United States and Israel, promising a stronger military response if attacks continue [265530]. Tehran did not specify what actions would trigger such a response or what form it would take, but the statement marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric [265530].
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to push the United States into another war with Iran to avoid prison, warning that Tehran has "unfinished jobs" of its own [265578]. His remarks came as former US President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections [265578].
Israel's military has raised its alert level and deployed tens of thousands of troops ahead of the upcoming elections, according to public broadcaster Kan [270371]. The army says it has no specific intelligence about an imminent attack but is preparing for a range of scenarios to avoid a surprise attack [270371].
The United States has urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, citing an increased threat of attacks by Iran and the Houthi group in the region [270375].
The risk of new fighting between the US, Israel and Iran is growing and helping keep oil prices high, even as energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz recover, according to Bloomberg Economics chief emerging markets economist Ziad Daoud [270172]. Daoud said the conflict could become a long-term stalemate, with higher shipping costs, low stockpiles and rising regional tensions continuing to threaten global energy supplies [270172].
Intelligence analysts warn that the region is now locked in a dangerous, open-ended war of attrition as the United States and Israel prepare for what experts describe as a potentially devastating third round of direct military conflict with Iran [270418].