Murphy Warns Proposed Iran Assault Could Escalate the War

Murphy said officials described a renewed operation as a “short-duration plan,” but warned that it could bring “devastating escalation” and damage the US commitment to the rule of law. He did not disclose classified details. He pointed to public reports that civilian infrastructure could be among potential targets, and said the plan developed at President Donald Trump’s request would harm US security interests.

The Associated Press, CNN and The Wall Street Journal have reported that the administration alerted Middle East allies to the possibility of a new assault after the US midterms. The Journal said several Gulf Arab countries were told to prepare for a short, intense campaign. CNN, citing unnamed officials, reported Trump had not decided what to do but appeared inclined toward major action; it said military leaders were developing a target list covering Iranian energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities.

Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council, called Murphy’s comments “a chilling warning” and urged an immediate end to the war. Sina Toossi, a senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International Policy, said infrastructure warfare between the US and Israel, on one side, and Iran, on the other, was increasingly likely. He expected Iranian retaliation might force Washington to stop quickly, but warned that damage to regional energy infrastructure could deepen the energy crisis, push economies including the US into recession and hurt Trump’s presidency. He said it was unclear whether those risks had deterred the president.

Trump has floated an attack at campaign events, telling a rally in Lubbock, Texas, earlier this week: “You’ll see Iran in a couple of weeks, if you don’t mind.” The Journal also reported that Vice President JD Vance, with Trump’s approval, sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to test whether diplomacy could head off an attack. Trump publicly denied directing Vance to pursue renewed talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a Financial Times op-ed that Tehran remained committed to a peaceful resolution but was prepared to defend itself. He said Iran had no trust in the administration’s stated desire for peace, while arguing diplomacy could proceed only if Washington accepted that it had no military options.