The report detailed Thursday, Nov. 12, by Israel's Kan 11 news channel said CENTCOM recently told Israeli military representatives stationed in the U.S. "to prepare for the possibility of renewed fighting in the near future" [2]. Despite this, CENTCOM dismissed the reports as "mere speculation" [1].
Trump Remarks and Military Posture
A third U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, is heading toward the Middle East, according to reports. Experts have suggested the carrier's pending arrival could signal a new surge in military action, though no official decision has been announced. Separately, CENTCOM has reportedly requested the deployment of the Army's Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East for potential use against Iran, part of a broader set of military options presented to Trump [3].
Trump previously threatened to resume strikes on Iran after the midterm elections but this week suggested he had moved away from that plan. On Thursday, Trump said he is no longer seeking a deal with Iran to end the war [4]. In a post on Truth Social, he called continuing the war "unlikely" [5].
Political Context and Midterm Elections
Trump's Republican Party lost both chambers of Congress to the Democrats in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. In separate interviews reflecting on the defeats, Trump said, "I think a part of it was Iran," according to Middle East Eye [6]. Vice President J.D. Vance also blamed the conflict for the party's performance, writing on X: "The reason we lost is the war" [6].
The results showed dissatisfaction among the American public over the eight-month war, which has led to a surge in fuel prices felt across the globe, according to election analyses. The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February, and the war has been followed by rising energy prices and cost-of-living concerns in the United States that Democrats sought to leverage politically [7].
Trump met the Qatari prime minister at the White House on Monday, Nov. 9 as he seeks to end the conflict with Iran. Doha has played a key role as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran [8].
Regional Escalation and Iran's Response
Tehran retaliated by firing attacks across the region and imposing a chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global trade. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran was continuing talks with Qatar but that it had no plans for direct talks with U.S. officials [9]. "There has been no meeting with the American delegation, nor has one been planned," he said [9].
Trump claimed Iran has been "decapitated" by the war but said he is still seeking a long-term solution to ensure Iran's nuclear program poses no threat. The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program has announced a reward of up to $20 million for information about Iran's nuclear program [10]. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and that it has no intention of developing a nuclear weapon [10].
CENTCOM's denial of the reported warning and Trump's conflicting statements have left the situation fluid, officials said.
Conflicting Signals as Region on Edge
Official denials and reported warnings present conflicting signals about the likelihood of renewed conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday, Nov. 8 that Israel's Iran "mission is still not complete," as Washington and Tel Aviv continue to prepare for the resumption of major strikes against the Islamic Republic [11]. "With regard to Iran, the mission is still not complete," Katz said, according to AFP [11].
U.S. military movements continue, and Trump has said forces remain ready, while also emphasizing ongoing talks. The State Department on Tuesday night, Nov. 10, renewed its warning that American citizens should be prepared for hostilities in the Middle East, namely Saudi Arabia [12]. "Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance due to the increased threat of armed attacks by Iranian-supported Houthis and Iranian efforts to target U.S. government officials in the region," said the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh [12].
No further comment was immediately available from CENTCOM or the Israel Defense Forces regarding the reported communications. The situation remains fluid, with officials and analysts continuing to assess the prospect of a resumption of hostilities.
References
- US CENTCOM warns Israel to 'prepare for Iran war resumption' as Middle East on brink. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2265794/us-centcom-warns-israel-prepare
- US military warns Israel to prepare for another war with Iran. https://endtimeheadlines.org/2026/11/us-military-warns-israel-to-prepare-for-another-war-with-iran/
- US CENTCOM Seeks Hypersonic Missile Deployment to Middle East for Potential Iran Operations - NaturalNews.com, May 01, 2026. by NaturalNews.com
- Trump Asks Vance to Focus on Corruption, Says US Doesn’t ‘Need a Deal With Iran’. https://theepochtimes.com/us/trump-asks-vance-to-focus-on-corruption-says-us-doesnt-need-a-deal-with-iran-6124182
- Netanyahu Calls Trump Every Day to Push for More War. Trump Says Regional Leaders Want Status Quo; Allies, Israel to Pay for War. https://thenewamerican.com/us/politics/foreign-policy/netanyahu-calls-trump-every-day-to-push-for-more-war-trump-says-regional-leaders-want-status-quo-allies-israel-to-pay-for-war/
- Trump Says Iran War Played Part in Republican Midterm Losses. https://www.naturalnews.com/2026-11-05-trump-iran-war-contributed-gop-midterm-losses.html
- Blame Game or Reality Check? Israeli Ambassador Fires Back at Vance Over Iran War Criticism. https://www.naturalnews.com/2026-11-08-danon-fires-back-vance-iran-war-criticism.html
- Trump to Meet Qatari Prime Minister in White House for Iran Talks. https://theepochtimes.com/world/trump-to-meet-qatari-prime-minister-in-white-house-for-iran-talks-6122361
- Iran and Qatar Hold Third Day of Talks as US, Israel Prepare for Potential New Attacks. https://news.antiwar.com/2026/11/01/iran-and-qatar-hold-third-day-of-talks-as-us-israel-prepare-for-potential-new-attacks/
- US offers $20m reward for information about Iran's nuclear programme. https://bbc.com/news/articles/c6d091ev3p0jo
- Katz Says Israel’s War Against Iran Is ‘Not Complete’. https://news.antiwar.com/2026/11/08/katz-says-israels-war-against-iran-is-not-complete/
- US Renews Warning for Americans in Middle East Over ‘Increased Threat’. https://theepochtimes.com/world/us-renews-warning-for-americans-in-middle-east-over-increased-threat-6123775
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