Washington: The United States has warned several Middle Eastern countries and regional allies to prepare for possible renewed military strikes on Iran after the November 3 midterm elections, as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth removed the Pentagon’s top military planner amid the ongoing conflict.
Two diplomats briefed on the warnings said US officials had cautioned allies that any new round of military action could last several days and that Tehran could retaliate against energy facilities and other critical infrastructure. Regional officials are also concerned that Iran-backed groups could join the response, potentially prolonging the conflict.
President Donald Trump has not taken a final decision on renewed strikes, the diplomats said, although he has repeatedly indicated that he is weighing military action after the elections. The White House and US officials declined to comment.
The developments come as Hegseth removed Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia from his position as director of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, known as the “J5”. A defence official confirmed the move to The Associated Press but gave no reason for the removal. No immediate replacement was announced.
Sylvia is the second general to be removed from the influential planning post under Hegseth. His predecessor, Lieutenant General Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October.
Sylvia’s departure is part of a wider turnover among senior military leaders during Hegseth’s tenure. The Pentagon has remained largely silent on the reasons behind several such departures. Last month, Hegseth said he had ordered a doubling of planned cuts to senior officer ranks, targeting a 20 per cent reduction by January 1, 2027. He described the move as “accountability”, while some lawmakers have criticised the cuts as a purge that could take years to reverse.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was continuing to give diplomacy a chance and was working with mediators to review a proposal it had floated last month as a basis for returning to a ceasefire. Trump had rejected the proposal, according to the diplomats’ account.
The United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry urged the parties to “exercise wisdom and pursue political solutions” to contain tensions and prevent a return to full-scale operations in the war that began in late February.
The US has not carried out strikes on Iran since early September, according to AP. The conflict has meanwhile spread, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacking Saudi oil infrastructure and airports, followed by Saudi-led strikes on Houthi-held territory in Yemen.
The timing of any possible US operation remains unclear, and the military’s readiness to resume strikes after the election has not been established.
(With inputs from PTI and other media reports)