The Middle East stands on the brink of a new military flare-up, with Iran and the United States preparing for a conflict threatening to surpass all previous records in intensity, scale, and catastrophic consequences. Tehran warns that the next war will not remain confined to its borders or traditional military operations, but could transform into a generalized confrontation targeting US bases in Europe, energy facilities in the Persian Gulf, underwater communication cables, and critical technological infrastructure. Concurrently, Washington weighs scenarios of devastating new strikes against Iran, even utilizing the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal, while deploying a third aircraft carrier, the USS Roosevelt, to the Middle East. Indicative of these military preparations is the warning issued by 12 US embassies to Americans in the Middle East regarding dangers originating from Iran and the Houthis, while amid this explosive military backdrop, threats are exchanged between Iran and Israel over "unfinished business." It is now evident that the broader Middle East is bracing for the worst-case scenario, threatening to plunge the region into an unprecedented war capable of dragging the global economy into an extraordinary energy and geopolitical shock.
Iranian generals prepare
Iran has signaled its preparation for a new round of war with the United States and has issued public threats against Washington and its allies in an apparent effort to deter President Donald Trump from restarting the ongoing conflict. Over the past month, Iranian military commanders have intensified public statements, maintaining that Iran has built up large stockpiles of new weapons ready to be deployed against targets beyond the region should the US repeat hostilities that began in February.
New targets
Iranian officials have threatened to broaden their range of targets in the event of a renewed conflict, weighing options including cutting underwater internet cables, striking artificial intelligence data centers, and attacking regional oil and gas facilities. "The world will be surprised," Hossein Mohebbi, spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran, stated late last month. "We have new targets that have not yet been hit," the Iranian general added.
At an impasse
Nearly nine months after the US and Israel launched their war against Iran, the conflict has reached an impasse, leaving everyone uncertain regarding Trump's ultimate objective while the global economy faces severe disruptions. Both sides have claimed victory: Tehran cites its survival and Washington points to the damage inflicted on the Iranian regime. Concurrently, the Trump administration continues testing new economic and military measures to force Iran into capitulation, a demand Tehran staunchly resists. "The war is not over," Mohebbi stated. "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has prepared for a prolonged war."
The threat of the "mother of all bombs"
In recent weeks, White House advisors have held meetings to weigh various options regarding Iran. Although Trump publicly announced he will take no new actions prior to the midterms, several advisors noted they remain uncertain whether this statement is final or could shift before election day on November 3. The American military has drafted new strike plans involving the potential deployment of the so-called "mother of all bombs" (specifically the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as MOAB, the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal) against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, should Trump order military operations to resume either before or after the midterms, according to multiple US officials familiar with the matter. Its deployment would signify a major escalation.
Weighing preemptive strikes
"These are propaganda tools intended to intimidate the Iranian people," Alireza Sheikh, an Iranian army commander, stated Saturday. "The Iranian people are the father of all bombs," Sheikh said. Iran has signaled the adoption of a new, more aggressive military doctrine according to which it will not wait to absorb a blow and could even launch preemptive strikes. Last week, Revolutionary Guard social media accounts reported that Iran conducted nationwide military exercises, including the simultaneous launch of 30 ballistic missiles.
Europe in the crosshairs
Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, a think tank focusing on American foreign policy in the region, stated that if Tehran, emboldened, decided to test its new long-range missiles in an attack against Europe, potential targets could include US forces stationed at airbases in England or the logistics hub in Ramstein, Germany, the largest American military installation outside the United States. "However, Iran would likely reserve this option for an extremely high level of escalation," Nadimi stated.
Alarm in Britain
The US transferred all long-range bombers stationed in the UK back to bases in the United States earlier this month following an unspecified new threat, according to officials. Days prior to the relocation, the British government arrested several individuals in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to attack the British airbase housing American bombers.
AI drone swarms
To increase the probability of successful strikes against targets, Iran could, according to Nadimi, deploy more sophisticated and coordinated swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence, cameras, and data-transmission systems. These systems would enable drones to communicate with one another, adjust their trajectory and speed, and evade electronic jamming and air defense systems. "They have not yet demonstrated these capabilities, but have discussed developing such technologies in the past," Nadimi stated. Iran may also seek to upgrade its cruise missiles by incorporating hypersonic propulsion systems to more easily evade interception, alongside attempting to jam military communication and surveillance satellites, he added.
Fever pitch
Iranian military commanders are preparing for a resumption of hostilities they view as inevitable, while simultaneously attempting to deter Washington by highlighting the costs an attack would entail, Ali Vaez, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the International Crisis Group, told CNN. "Tehran wants to make clear that the next round will be fought on a much broader battlefield, with fewer restrictions and potentially deadlier consequences," Vaez stated. "However, the danger is that what Iran views as deterrence may be interpreted in Washington as provocation, making the very war Tehran hopes to prevent more likely."
Hormuz will be only the beginning
When the US and Israel launched the war against Iran in February, they killed the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, alongside Iranian military commanders, high-ranking officials, and civilians, including students. Iranian retaliation focused primarily on neighboring Arab countries Tehran accuses of cooperating with Washington. Iran effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, the sole maritime route through which neighboring countries export oil, before launching strikes against non-military infrastructure in Arab cities. Dubai, a major tourist destination, came under fire, water facilities in Kuwait were hit, and data center attacks caused banking service disruptions across several regional countries.
Fired over 2,500 missiles and drones
Iran launched more than 2,500 missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against the United Arab Emirates alone, a figure exceeding that directed at any other country, including Israel. Last week, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, warned that Iran will target US facilities and other interests in the region, including those inside the United Arab Emirates, in retaliation for any new attacks. "If another war breaks out, numerous underwater cables, data centers, artificial intelligence facilities, and other infrastructure across the entire region could be destroyed," Rezaei stated. A senior UAE official stated his country is better prepared in the event of renewed conflict. "We do not want war," Ali Al-Nuaimi, chairman of the Defense, Interior, and Foreign Affairs Committee of the UAE Federal National Council, stated. "But if a war starts today, we are ready to confront any threat that arises, better than we were on February 28." "We will do whatever it takes to protect our national security, our sovereignty, and our people."
Mohebbi (Iranian general): "If they strike our infrastructure, we will turn occupied lands into scorched earth"
According to the Iranian Tasnim news agency, Hossein Mohebbi, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated: "Any attack against Iran's energy infrastructure—although damages will be immediately repaired by our new scientists—will result in us turning occupied lands (Israel) into scorched earth forever and forcing their usurpers to flee as refugees into the Sinai desert. The world will see what is about to happen!" Mohebbi underscored.
Unprecedented Araghchi (Iranian FM) threat to Israel: Want to try your luck again? — Come on...
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi responded via a social media post to threatening statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating: "The last time you wanted to 'finish the job,' Iran emerged stronger than before. Do you want to try your luck again? Go ahead, but beware: we too have left some business unfinished!" Araghchi said, noting: "Netanyahu, in his effort to avoid prison, is pushing the United States into yet another war, indifferent to the consequences this will have for Israel, let alone for the American president." Araghchi has previously characterized the Israeli prime minister as a "corrupt gambler" and a "wanted war criminal with Arab, American, and Iranian blood on his hands," accusing him of being willing to sacrifice American lives and resources to prolong his own political survival.
Fattah-2: The hypersonic weapon showcased by Tehran — The father of missiles
One of the primary systems associated with the phrase "father of all missiles" is the Fattah-2. This specific missile was showcased by Iran as a major step in developing advanced hypersonic weapon systems, emphasizing high speed and maneuverability. The strategic value of such a weapon is not limited to its speed. The capability to alter trajectory during flight can complicate calculations for interception points by opposing air defense systems. Tehran presents such capabilities as an answer to advanced Western anti-missile systems, including Patriot and THAAD. Despite uncertainty, its development captures a core strategic pursuit: rendering Iran an adversary that cannot be confronted solely through the technological superiority of Western air defense systems.
Americans send the USS Roosevelt
The US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt departed Japan destined for the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in the Middle East. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz-class vessel, sortied from the American naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, to continue its transit toward the operational area of responsibility of US Central Command (CENTCOM) in the Middle East.
Warnings from 12 US embassies
Twelve US embassies in the Middle East issued security warnings to American citizens residing in the region, citing potential threats from Iran or Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. "Iran and organizations supporting it may target other American interests abroad or locations associated with the United States and American citizens worldwide, including American businesses and other organizations," the warning states. American authorities urged citizens "to bear in mind the possibility of flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions" and "to exercise heightened vigilance due to the complex security environment." Referencing ongoing Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, the warning points out that the conflict could "escalate rapidly and expand beyond the specific region." The warning applies to 12 Middle Eastern countries, including Arab Gulf states, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Yemen, and Iran.
Axios: White House disagreements over supporting Netanyahu — Trump gives "green light" for attack on Iran with his move
The Jerusalem Post reveals that close advisors to Donald Trump disagreed with his decision to publicly express support for Benjamin Netanyahu. Two sources with knowledge of the case details informed the Jerusalem Post that certain of Trump's closest advisors and allies opposed publicly backing the Israeli prime minister. According to the newspaper, one figure who may have played a decisive role in the matter is John McLaughlin. McLaughlin serves as a pollster for both Trump and Netanyahu, and the data at his disposal may have influenced the American president's decision. Concurrently, the news portal Axios reported that Trump, with his message of support for Netanyahu, appeared to signal he will permit him to attack Iran following the midterm elections in the United States. US President Donald Trump expressed support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, a mere nine days prior to the Israeli elections of October 27. Trump's decision to intervene in the Israeli electoral contest, just nine days before its conduct, could bolster Netanyahu at a critically vital juncture in his bid to secure political survival. Most polls indicate Netanyahu's governing coalition falls short of securing the 61 seats required to form a government. These reports follow recent statements by Trump explaining he decided to back Netanyahu because they maintain a good personal relationship. Speaking to Axios regarding his support for the Israeli prime minister, the US president stated: "It is important for Israel to have someone upon whom they can rely." Trump added: "I decided to support Netanyahu because we have a good relationship and because we will continue doing good things together." He subsequently noted: "I always intended to do this. I simply did not want to do it too early." Asked whether he could cooperate with another figure in Israel's leadership, Trump replied: "Perhaps I could, perhaps not. Why take the risk?"
Tanker strikes mine south of the Strait of Hormuz
The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced that an explosion and fire occurred in the engine room of a tanker which, according to Iranian authorities, violated navigation regulations after striking a sea mine south of the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, it warned that it will address with strictness and resolve any vessel deactivating its navigation and identification systems. The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement regarding the incident, reporting that a tanker violating regulations suffered an accident in waters south of Iran. According to the statement, the tanker, attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz, had deactivated all positioning and navigation tracking systems starting from its departure point. Ignoring international navigation rules and regulations applicable in the Strait of Hormuz, the ship attempted transit via an unapproved maritime route in the southern section of the strait, resulting in a strike against a sea mine. The impact triggered an explosion and fire in the tanker's engine room, according to Iranian authorities. The Revolutionary Guard Navy issued a stern warning to all commercial and other vessels transiting the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring that "if ships moving in the area deactivate their navigation and identification systems, they will be handled with strictness and resolve."
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