Report: U.S. Told Allies to Brace for Iran Strikes After the Vote

U.S. officials have warned regional allies to prepare for possible strikes on Iran after the November 3 elections and retaliation against critical infrastructure, two diplomats told The Associated Press. ^[1]

The diplomats, who were briefed on the communications, said a U.S. operation could last several days. Washington urged allies to take precautions against Iranian attacks on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure, while Iran-aligned groups could join the retaliation and prolong the fighting. The diplomats spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the warnings. ^[1]

President Donald Trump has made no final decision, according to the diplomats. The White House and U.S. officials declined to comment to AP. ^[1]

At a campaign stop in Lubbock, Texas, on October 27, Trump said the war could end "in a couple of weeks" and said the United States needed to ensure Iran would never have a nuclear weapon. ^[1]

Separately, the Joint Staff confirmed the departure of Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, its director for strategy, plans and policy. His exit removes a senior figure responsible for developing military advice while Trump considers renewed action. The Joint Staff gave no reason for the departure. ^[2][3]

A warning that reaches beyond Iran

The reported warning concerns several West Asian countries and regional allies. It puts energy facilities and other essential infrastructure among the assets governments have been asked to protect, extending the preparations beyond military bases and forces. ^[1]

Those governments face a different calculation from Washington's. A U.S. operation might have a planned endpoint after several days. According to the diplomats, Iranian retaliation and action by allied groups could carry the conflict beyond it. A timetable for launching strikes is easier to set than a timetable for ending the exchange. ^[1]

The fighting has already crossed borders. The conflict began in late February, according to The Hindu's account, which reported that Iran-backed Houthi rebels had attacked Saudi oil infrastructure and airports. A Saudi-led coalition responded with attacks on Houthi-held territory in Yemen. ^[1]

That sequence gives the infrastructure warning a concrete regional context. Saudi facilities have already been attacked, and the response has reached Yemen. The possibility of further retaliation means governments outside the immediate U.S.-Iran confrontation are being asked to prepare for damage on their own territory. ^[1]

The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry urged the sides to "exercise wisdom and pursue political solutions to help contain tensions" and prevent a return to full-scale operations. ^[1]

The financial burden is already substantial. The Pentagon's estimate of the Iran war's cost reached $47.1 billion in a figure it provided to Congress, according to The Hindu. That is the U.S. military bill reported to lawmakers, not a tally of the damage across the region. ^[1]

The Pentagon has also deployed the USS Theodore Roosevelt and amphibious ships carrying Marines from San Diego to the Persian Gulf. The Hindu described the movement as involving roughly 9,000 troops and said it was intended to bolster U.S. forces in the region. ^[1]

Readiness is moving alongside diplomacy

CNN separately reported, citing two U.S. officials, that American forces in the Middle East were prepared to launch potentially major operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from Trump. Those officials also cautioned that he had not decided what to do after the elections and had previously appeared to lean towards action before backing away. ^[3]

The 96-hour period describes how quickly forces could act after an order. It does not establish a date for an operation. Which governments received the warning, when it was delivered and what specific precautions Washington requested have not been publicly identified. No attack order or connection between Sylvia's departure and Iran planning has been established. ^[1][3]

The Daily Inference reported on October 22 that alleged preparations included stepped-up exercises and possible attacks on energy, nuclear and military sites, but that Trump had not approved an operation. The new diplomats' account adds a warning to allies about the possible length of a campaign and the retaliation they should prepare to face. ^[1]

Diplomatic efforts are continuing. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on October 28 that Tehran "continues to give diplomacy a chance to succeed" and was working with mediators to review ideas in an Iranian proposal for returning to a ceasefire. Trump had rejected the proposal, according to the AP account published by The Hindu. ^[1]

A change at the planning desk

Sylvia's departure adds a confirmed leadership change to the reported preparations. AP reporting republished by the South China Morning Post attributed news of his removal to an anonymous defence official and said no reason was given. The Joint Staff spokesperson thanked Sylvia for 32 years of service. ^[2][3]

The job, known as J5, advises the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military strategy, plans and policy recommendations for national leaders. It draws input from other agencies, allies and the commanders responsible for military operations. CNN said no immediate replacement was known. ^[3]

That makes the post relevant to both parts of the current task: developing options for the president and incorporating the concerns of allies expected to live with the response. Personnel changes at that level deserve scrutiny without turning their timing into proof of a policy dispute.