U.S. Officials Warn of Possible Renewed Strikes on Iran After Midterm Elections

U.S. diplomats have told several Middle-East states and regional allies to prepare for a possible new round of U.S. strikes against Iran after the midterm elections. President Donald Trump has not announced a final decision but says he is weighing new action. The warning notes that Iran and its proxies could retaliate, potentially extending the conflict for several days.

Associated Press

In the weeks before the elections, the Pentagon moved the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and amphibious ships carrying roughly 9,000 Marines to the Persian Gulf. A U.S. official said the presence could rise to over 20,000 sailors and Marines and hundreds of aircraft, a level seen only a few times in two decades. The Navy also operated three carrier strike groups in April, the first such concentration since 2003. The Pentagon estimates the war’s cost to taxpayers at $47.1 billion, per a briefing to Congress.

Associated Press

U.S. officials declined to comment, and the White House remained silent. Regional allies have been urged to take precautionary measures against possible Iranian strikes on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure.

Associated Press

• “Somebody asked me before, when will the war in Iran end?” — Trump

Associated Press