Iran threatens Gulf strikes as US issues alerts, raising fears of imminent war

Iran has issued stern warnings, threatening to target oil facilities, undersea cables, data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure across up to seven Gulf countries if the United States and Israel renew their attacks. This marks the first time AI infrastructure has been explicitly named as a potential military target in regional conflict statements. The threats come amidst heightened tensions, with reports indicating that the US and Israel are preparing for renewed strikes against Iran following upcoming elections in both countries. Iran views any future conflict as an existential threat and has indicated a strategy of expanding the geographical and temporal scope of engagement.

In a separate but related development, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a prominent pro-Israel lobby group, announced on October 22, 2026, that it would cease directly endorsing political candidates and making direct contributions through its political action committee. This strategic shift follows increasing backlash and criticism in the US, particularly among Democratic voters, due to declining public opinion regarding Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Critics have suggested that AIPAC's direct endorsements had become a political liability for candidates. However, the organization stated it would continue its significant electoral spending through its super PAC, the United Democracy Project, and focus on mobilizing individual donors.