'It's going to get wrapped up soon': Trump weighs new Iran strikes after the midterms as allies are told to brace for retaliation
Donald Trump, JD Vance and Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office in July. Trump has denied that a letter Vance sent to Iran's top security official was intended to revive peace negotiations, insisting it concerned…
Admiral Brad Cooper, America's top Middle East commander, appeared in person at the White House on Thursday, joining Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine to present President Trump with military options for resuming strikes on Iran. US officials have already notified several Middle Eastern allies to brace for potential renewed action after the November 3 midterms, warning that any fresh campaign could run for several days.
Regional allies have been warned to prepare for the possibility of Iranian counter-strikes against energy facilities and critical infrastructure.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies warns Gulf states must rethink their trillion-dollar defences after Iran fired 4,670 attack drones and 1,400 ballistic missiles in the weeks before the April ceasefire, causing up to $58bn in energy infrastructure damage.
Pentagon planner Lt Gen Brett Sylvia was fired by Hegseth after admitting on video to leaking classified Iran and Ukraine policy information to reporters, with the case referred to the Justice Department.
