TEL AVIV, Israel (Diya TV) — The United States and Israel are preparing for possible strikes on Iran in early November, after the U.S. midterm elections, according to a person briefed on the planning. The preparations could also pressure Tehran to return to negotiations; they do not confirm that either government has approved an attack.
The person told NPR that Israel had planned to strike Iran in mid-October, before its Oct. 27 election, but President Donald Trump objected. The U.S. is now building up forces in the region, the person said. Trump has publicly said the United States will not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterms.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that Tehran was “just as prepared for diplomacy as we are for war.” He called a U.S.-Israeli attack possible. Iranian state media also quoted a security source warning that Iran would retaliate against U.S. interests and the infrastructure of countries that joined an attack.
The threat comes as diplomacy has stalled and shipping remains disrupted. A ceasefire began in April, followed by a U.S.-Iran agreement in June, but renewed fighting undermined the deal, which formally expired in August. Iran’s attacks and threats have sharply reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has separately imposed a blockade on shipping to and from Iranian ports.
Iranian state television reported Thursday that seven tankers were damaged overnight in the Strait: four caught fire while transferring oil, and three struck naval mines. The Associated Press said it could not independently verify the report. The Revolutionary Guard also warned that it could target U.S. bases if Washington tried to secure tanker passage.
Iran has also threatened digital infrastructure in the Gulf. Revolutionary Guard official Yadollah Javani said Iran could destroy undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz and called for U.S. forces to leave the region, NPR reported.
The economic fallout is deepening. The International Monetary Fund forecast Thursday that the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan economies would contract 1.3% this year, citing damage to energy production, shipping, tourism and trade. It projected double-digit declines for Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, and said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were also headed for recession. In a separate worst-case scenario, the IMF said oil could reach $130 a barrel if the conflict and shipping disruptions persist into 2027.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Iran’s supreme leader and senior officials, according to NPR. U.S. strikes have weakened Iran’s air force, air defenses and navy, but Tehran has continued to threaten regional targets and attack shipping.
For now, the reported military buildup and Iran’s warnings leave two paths open: renewed strikes or a diplomatic effort to contain the conflict. The timing and scope of any potential operation remain unclear.
