U.S. officials have told several Middle East allies to prepare for potential renewed military action against Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. According to two diplomats briefed on the matter, the warnings also cautioned that Iran might attempt to retaliate against those regional partners. While President Donald Trump has stated he is weighing military options, the diplomats emphasized that a final decision on new strikes has not yet been reached.
The U.S. has notified regional allies that a new round of military operations could last for several days. In response, allies have been advised to take precautionary measures, specifically regarding energy facilities and other critical infrastructure that could be targeted in an Iranian counter-strike. This warning comes as the conflict has already expanded to include attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure and airports, followed by retaliatory strikes by a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
To support its regional presence, the Pentagon deployed the USS Theodore Roosevelt and a series of amphibious landing ships carrying approximately 9,000 Marines from San Diego to the Persian Gulf late last month. This movement could increase the U.S. naval presence to more than 20,000 sailors and Marines, accompanied by hundreds of aircraft. Additionally, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Joint Chiefs of Staff's head of strategy, plans, and policy, though no reason for the firing or an immediate replacement was provided.
The scale of the conflict's financial impact is significant for American taxpayers, with the Pentagon reporting to Congress that the cost of the Iran war has reached $47.1 billion. This equates to roughly $5.8 billion per month since the conflict began in late February 2026. Domestic consumers in the U.S. would notice the impact through gasoline prices and energy costs, which the source reports have already risen as a byproduct of the war, affecting costs across nearly every sector of the global economy.
A renewed offensive would set a precedent for post-election military shifts and could alter ongoing diplomatic efforts, such as the ceasefire proposal Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is still pursuing through mediators. The next window for potential action begins after the Nov. 3 elections. Voters and international observers are watching to see if the administration moves toward the "conclusive end" President Trump suggested during an Oct. 27 campaign stop in Texas, or if the region enters a cycle of strikes and counter-strikes involving energy infrastructure.