A few days before the U.S. midterm elections, Qatari mediators negotiated for more than twelve hours in Tehran with the Islamic Republic, with talks expected to continue in Doha. Media reported that the U.S. has warned its allies to be ready for a possible attack on the Islamic Republic starting Wednesday, November 4 (13 Aban).
The leader of the Islamic Republic, in a meeting with military commanders, warned that if the U.S. or Israel attack, the Islamic Republic will respond swiftly and strongly and only the Islamic Republic will set the timing and conditions to end the war.
There are also reports of disagreement among Donald Trump's close associates; the foreign and defense ministers are skeptical about reaching an agreement with the Islamic Republic, but some advisors want to continue negotiations. In the event of diplomatic failure, a military attack will likely be short and intense. These developments carry significant importance for regional stability.
Experts and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the Islamic Republic will respond militarily beyond the West Asia region to any possible aggression by the United States or Israel. They said that the era of the missile limitation doctrine and extraregional restraint has ended, and now all targets are within the IRGC's reach.
Donald Trump said that the U.S. has destroyed a large portion of the Islamic Republic's military power but still needs to "finish work on one or two targets," including the nuclear facility at Kooh Kalang.
Reports indicate Trump had a call with the Israeli Prime Minister in which they discussed the possibility of military strikes following the U.S. midterm elections; the U.S. has warned its allies in the Gulf region to be prepared for a short and intense period of potential attacks. Trump said, "We have a plan," and that only "one or two sites" remain to be dealt with "within 10 minutes."
Mojtaba Khamenei's official website reported that during a meeting with the armed forces' commanders, he ordered that responses to any threats be immediate and without geographical limitation. This meeting took place amid increasing worries about a potential military attack on the Islamic Republic, while diplomatic efforts to bring parties back to the negotiating table continue.
Officials of the Islamic Republic, amid mediation negotiations about war, have warned that they will respond quickly and forcefully to any threat. A senior official stated that there is no discussion about the nuclear program in these negotiations and that a possible future war could be longer than before. The head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament stated that the Islamic Republic determines the end time of the war. A spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps added that the war with the US will have no geographical limits.
US fighter jets repeatedly and nightly fly in the Strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on their forces and crews. At the same time, Kowsari spoke about the Islamic Republic's multi-decade plan to control the Strait of Hormuz and the goal of expelling the US from the region. These developments come amid escalating tensions between the US and the Islamic Republic.
As the cold season approaches, warnings about gas and electricity shortages in the Islamic Republic have intensified. Part of the energy infrastructure was damaged in the recent war. Officials and contractors from the Islamic Republic have reported that reconstruction of petrochemical units is progressing and some of the lost capacities have been restored.
According to reports, the military conflict by the U.S. and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran has led to a 70% decrease in chemical fertilizer exports in West Asia. Turkey’s Foreign Minister stated that the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has imposed heavy economic costs on the global economy.
Ali Razaii, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, stated that no decision has been made so far on changing the nuclear doctrine. He added that the people of Iran have wishes and demands in this matter.
These statements were published on 1 October 2026 in a BBC Persian report.
According to a Press TV report dated 1 October 2026, the wars and tensions related to the Islamic Republic have caused an increase in fuel prices in global markets. This price hike has impacted American households, making their financial conditions more difficult.
This trend was reported concurrently with the U.S. midterm elections.