Trump gears up for Iran escalation after US polls; Tehran says position unchanged

Trump hits at resuming strikes on Iran; Tehran's position unchanged US President Donald Trump has hinted that his forces in the Mideast would resume strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections on Nov 3. The President has already sent a third aircraft carrier strike group and 10,000 additional sailors and Marines toward the Persian Gulf to give US commanders more options if he restarts hostilities.Last week, defence secretary Pete Hegseth also made an unannounced stop in Israel — which launched the war against Iran alongside the US — where he met with PM Benjamin Netanyahu just days ahead of the Israeli leader’s sensitive re-election bid. Staffing at Middle Eastern bases, which have been hit hard by Iranian counterstrikes, has reportedly been reduced.The US State Department this week ordered the departure of some diplomats and families in Saudi Arabia, following the Iran-backed Houthis expanding the conflict into Saudi Arabia. Houthis have pummelled the Riyadh airport and energy facilities with drones and missiles, killing dozens and wounding hundreds.Against that backdrop, Iran is bracing for a fresh US bombing campaign around midterms and is preparing to retaliate across West A...