Iran says it will send troops into neighbors if U.S. launches new attacks, linking threat to November midterms

Iran announced on Oct. 13 that it is strengthening its defenses and is prepared to deploy troops into neighboring countries should the United States launch a new wave of attacks, a statement that explicitly ties the threat to the forthcoming U.S. midterm elections.

The warning matters because it signals a possible widening of the conflict in a region already volatile from proxy wars and shipping disruptions, heightening risks for global oil supplies and diplomatic stability.

Iranian officials said the move is intended to deter U.S. aggression and protect the Islamic Republic’s regime. Security council secretary Mohsen Rezaei singled out the United Arab Emirates as a potential target, accusing the Gulf state of supporting U.S. Central Command. He also mentioned Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities and regional data centers as possible retaliation points.

Satellite images released in recent weeks show Iran fortifying sensitive locations, including its nuclear research sites at Natanz and Pickaxe Mountain, as well as border areas. The country is bolstering missile capacity and expanding drone capabilities, a development analysts link to a surge in recent attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC has been broadcasting a new war campaign to the public, rallying loyalists with parades of missiles and promises of broader retaliation across the Middle East if the United States resumes strikes after the elections. Iran’s border forces have been mobilized, and paramilitary units have begun training civilians in basic anti‑aircraft tactics.

Iran has previously warned regional governments that it would widen the war if the United States renewed attacks, a stance echoed in private conversations with neighboring officials. Past Iranian actions have targeted U.S. troops and interests in the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.

The next weeks will test whether diplomatic channels can de‑escalate the threat or whether a renewed U.S. strike will trigger the promised Iranian incursions, a scenario that could draw several Gulf states into a broader confrontation.