# U.S. Tells Gulf States to Prepare for Possible Iran Airstrikes After Elections, Report Says

*Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 6:10 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-10-28T06:10:11.675Z (2h ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Middle East
**Importance**: 9/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/21738.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: The United States has warned several Persian Gulf governments to brace for a possible short, intense air campaign against Iran after U.S. midterm elections on 3 November, according to a Wall Street Journal account relayed on 28 October.

Several Persian Gulf governments have been told to get ready for potential U.S. airstrikes on Iran, pulling the region back toward the prospect of direct conflict. A Wall Street Journal report circulated on 28 October said the United States had warned these states to prepare for a short but intense air operation against Iran after U.S. midterm elections scheduled for 3 November.

According to that account, then‑President Donald Trump was leaning toward ordering strikes on key Iranian infrastructure and nuclear facilities but had not yet reached a final decision. The same reporting said Israel was conducting its own preparations for such a scenario, working with Washington on potential targeting and likely Iranian reactions.

A focused air campaign against Iranian nuclear and industrial sites would carry clear risks. Iranian missiles and drones could be used against U.S. bases, Israeli territory and Gulf infrastructure. The fact that Gulf states were reportedly warned suggests Washington expects their territory could serve as both launchpad and target if fighting breaks out. Their airfields, storage depots and command centres host U.S. personnel, and their power plants, desalination facilities and oil terminals lie within Iran’s strike range.

For people living and working in these monarchies, the effects of any clash would be concrete if deterrence failed: sirens, disrupted flights and potential interruptions to electricity or water if critical sites were hit or shut down as a precaution. Migrant workers, who keep many of these economies running, would have limited ways to leave quickly. Local companies could see ports close, trade finance slow and property markets jolt even during a brief crisis.

Israel’s reported role increases pressure on Tehran. Israeli officials have long treated Iran’s nuclear program as a central security threat and have said they might act militarily if diplomacy stalls. Joint planning or close coordination with the United States, even at an exploratory stage, signals to Iran that two advanced air forces are considering strike options. Iran has invested heavily in missiles and drones in part to hold U.S. and allied targets at risk in such a scenario.

Strategically, a short air campaign is often presented as a way to deliver a sharp message without sliding into a ground war. In practice, Iran’s network of armed partners across Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen gives it channels to respond through rocket fire, attacks on shipping or cyber operations against infrastructure. Gulf governments would have to manage public anxiety, alliance commitments and the security of energy exports at the same time.

Energy and aviation markets would respond quickly. Even anticipation of strikes could lead insurers to tighten terms around the Strait of Hormuz and airlines to reroute away from Iranian airspace, with knock‑on effects for costs and evacuation planning.

Other reporting on 28 October pointed to a parallel diplomatic track, with Gulf actors working on a multipart peace deal to try to avert a U.S.–Iran war and keep Hormuz stable. The gap between that effort and the military contingencies described in the Wall Street Journal underscores the region’s bind: officials are planning for both de‑escalation and sudden escalation.

Signals to watch include whether U.S. leaders sharpen or soften their language on Iran’s nuclear activities, any visible movement of U.S. or Israeli aircraft and support assets, and whether Gulf ministers talk more openly about channels with Tehran. New intelligence claims about Iranian nuclear work, or a marked rise in Iranian missile testing beyond launches already reported near cities such as Mashhad, would suggest the window for quiet de‑escalation is narrowing.