Iran is intensifying its military preparations and public messaging as it anticipates potential U.S. attacks following the upcoming midterm elections in the United States. The Iranian government has publicly and privately warned that any American strikes could provoke a broader and more severe response across the Middle East.
Satellite imagery and intelligence reports indicate that Iran is fortifying its sensitive sites, including nuclear facilities such as Pickaxe Mountain and Natanz, by enhancing defensive infrastructure and constructing passive barriers. Iranian officials have also reinforced missile and drone operations sites and have upgraded protection around key locations near border areas.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued statements warning of “harsh and painful responses” should the U.S. or Israel initiate an attack. Tehran has reportedly conveyed to regional Arab officials that it might target strategic economic and military assets in the event of hostilities, naming potential targets such as Saudi oil infrastructure and data centers across the Gulf. Iran’s top national-security official, Mohsen Rezaei, suggested that Tehran could also conduct ground incursions into neighboring countries, including the United Arab Emirates, which has largely avoided direct conflict since late spring.
The buildup coincides with escalating tensions in the region. The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched a missile attack on Riyadh’s international airport over the weekend, killing at least 13 people and injuring hundreds, marking the deadliest strike against U.S. interests and Gulf allies in related conflicts this year. The Houthis have also increased attacks on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, including a recent drone strike on an Emirati tanker near Oman that resulted in missing crew members.
In response to the heightened risk, the U.S. military has increased its presence in the Middle East. A third aircraft carrier strike group and an additional Marine expeditionary unit are en route to the region, while the Pentagon is considering dispatching more air-defense systems and munitions to regional bases. Although President Donald Trump ruled out immediate action before the November 3 midterm elections, he has publicly discussed the possibility of striking Iran’s nuclear sites, and U.S. officials are reportedly preparing a range of military options.
Iran has simultaneously been mobilizing its population and paramilitary forces to brace for conflict. State media have been broadcasting pro-regime rallies, with billboards in Tehran promoting civilian training courses on the use of shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles and sniper rifles. The Revolutionary Guard recently demonstrated the training of female commando units skilled in guerrilla warfare and drone piloting. Propaganda efforts have included visits to schools where paramilitary forces share stories of past clashes and display American weapons claimed to have been intercepted.
Experts note that Iran’s confrontational stance serves multiple purposes: deterring U.S. attacks, distracting from worsening economic conditions due to tightened sanctions, and bolstering domestic support amid political and diplomatic stalemates. While both sides appear cautious following a pause in direct hostilities earlier this year, the ongoing military buildup and volatile attacks underline a conflict that remains unresolved and prone to escalation.