Trump Hints Iran War Escalation After Midterms, Iowa Voters Fear Renewed Strikes

Iowa voters brace

In Sioux City, Iowa, Christine Brenden said fuel prices rose from around $40 to $60 and she predicted they would “skyrocket again” if President Donald Trump resumes the war with Iran after November’s midterm elections.

Gas prices rise in Iowa2 of 4 outlets reported it · not in DW and 1 more▾

Scott Rhinehart said, “He started something, I don’t know how he’s going to finish it,” outside the Sioux City post office, and he said it was time for Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other countries to either “jump in or jump out.”

Trump told reporters while departing the White House for Iowa that “we can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” and he added, “we may do it a little bit further.”

The CNN account said two service members from Iowa, Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien from Indianola and Sgt. Declan Coady from West Des Moines, were killed when an Iranian drone struck a tactical operations center in Kuwait.

Iowa deaths in the war2 of 4 outlets reported it · not in DW and 1 more▾

The same reporting said advisers have drawn up plans for renewed strikes in coordination with Israel that could be executed as soon as Trump gives the go-ahead, with targets including nuclear sites, energy facilities, and Iran’s remaining missile and drone arsenal.

Reporting for this sectionABC17NEWS

Plans, targets, and timing

DW said officials in Tehran were preparing for renewed strikes after media reports that the United States and Israel were examining new options for escalating their war against Iran, with the conflict launched in late February. DW reported that senior US officials said the New York Times reported the United States and Israel had “developed specific plans” for a “short but intensive operation” that would include targets such as nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and Iran’s arsenal of missiles and drones. NPR said a person briefed on the U.S. and Israel’s war planning told NPR that the U.S. is now amassing forces in the region to be ready to attack by early November after the U.S. midterm elections.

Possible early November attack4 of 7 outlets reported it · not in ABC17NEWS and 2 more▾

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state media, “We are just as prepared for diplomacy as we are for war,” and he said, “Any scenario is conceivable, including the possibility of an attack by the U.S. and Israel.” NPR also reported that Iranian state media quoted a security source saying that if Iranian officials or civilian infrastructure were attacked, Iran would retaliate by targeting U.S. interests in the region and the infrastructure and assets of countries participating in the war.

Reporting for this sectionDWNPR

Iran’s threats and stakes

Iran International said the New York Times reported that the U.S. and Israeli militaries prepared plans to launch new strikes on Iran after the U.S. midterm elections, while the final decision by President Donald Trump remained unclear. Iran International quoted Dana Stroul saying Trump and Netanyahu did not provide a convincing explanation of how an additional war could break the existing strategic deadlock, and it also cited a claim that a three-day intensified operation could cause enough economic damage to change Tehran’s stance. The same Iran International account said Mehdi Mohammadi described the belief that the new round of strikes could end within 72 hours as “pure fantasy,” adding that Iran is the one who will determine the end date of the war.

NPR reported that Deputy for Political Affairs of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Yadollah Javani said, “The Americans must leave the region — they no longer have a place here — and they can never restore the situation to what it was before the war,” and he said Iran was prepared to destroy internet cables running under the Strait of Hormuz. NPR further reported that Iranian state media said seven oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz were targeted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday, with four tankers catching fire and three others hit naval mines.

Reporting for this sectionIran InternationalNPR