US tells Gulf states to brace for possible Iran strikes

The US has quietly told Gulf Arab countries to get ready for a possible war with Iran – and it could start right after America’s elections.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Washington has warned several Gulf states through military and diplomatic channels to prepare for what officials are calling a “short, intense military campaign” against Iran. The warning comes just days before the US midterm elections on 3 November, and it’s one of the clearest signs yet that another round of military action against Tehran could be close. We’ve been tracking this story since early October, when reports first said the US was weighing new Iran strikes before the vote.

So what exactly is the US doing?

Officials cited by the Wall Street Journal say the US military is restocking munitions and getting bombers and fighter jets ready for possible strikes. Troops are being moved out of bases that are considered more vulnerable to Iranian retaliation.

On top of the roughly 20 US warships already in the region, an additional aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit are expected to arrive next month. This follows earlier reports that the US loaded missiles onto warships heading towards the Gulf, and separate reports about the possible use of the “Mother of All Bombs” against hardened Iranian sites.

None of this means an attack is certain. The Wall Street Journal’s report does not say Trump has approved any new strike – only that he is leaning towards one, and that preparations are underway in case he gives the order.

What has Trump actually said?

Trump has not confirmed any plan outright, but he’s dropped hints. Speaking at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, he told the crowd: “You’ll see Iran in a couple of weeks, if you don’t mind.”

He also referred back to earlier strikes, saying, “We obliterated Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity with Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury and defeated them militarily, financially and otherwise. And it will all end very soon.” He added, “It could be over whenever I wanted it to be over.”

The White House wouldn’t confirm or deny any specific plan, calling it “sensitive military plans that may or may not exist.” It did say Trump “keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump had earlier said he wouldn’t strike Iran before the midterms, which is why many see the period right after 3 November as the moment to watch. We covered his most recent warning in detail when Trump signalled more strikes were possible just last week.

How did we get here?

This isn’t the start of the conflict. The US and Israel launched military action against Iran on 28 February. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway that a huge share of the world’s oil and gas passes through.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in June, meant to lead towards a full peace deal. That process broke down, partly over disagreements about who controls navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Since then, tension has kept building, including Iran’s recent claim about shooting down a US drone, which we reported on when Iran said it downed its 54th US drone over the strait.

What this means for people in Kuwait

Kuwait sits close to all of this, and it’s not just a headline from far away. Any renewed conflict near the Strait of Hormuz can affect oil prices, shipping, and flight routes used by people travelling in and out of the region.

It also comes only weeks after six US troops, including a soldier from Iowa, were killed at Kuwait’s Shuaiba port, a story we covered in detail at the time. That incident is a reminder that American forces based here are not insulated from events tied to the wider Iran standoff. You can read our full international coverage of the Gulf tensions for more background on how this situation has developed.

The Shuaiba port incident showed how close this conflict already sits to home. Residents and expats here should keep an eye on travel advisories, fuel prices, and any guidance from Kuwaiti authorities in the weeks ahead, especially around the 3 November date mentioned in the report.

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