Iran fortifies nuclear sites, drills kids ahead of Trump strike

Iran is preparing for the possibility of renewed war with the United States immediately after the American midterm elections on November 3, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Tehran fears that President Donald Trump will use the post-election period to resume strikes against the country, and the regime is intensifying preparations for a possible confrontation.

Satellite imagery shows fortifications around the nuclear facilities at Natanz and the Fordow mountain site, intended to harden them against ground attack. At the same time, strategic installations including airports, seaports and power stations are being equipped with emergency supplies,

The civilian population is being mobilized as well: billboards in Tehran encourage training in the use of sniper rifles and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles. According to the report, the Revolutionary Guards have expanded their propaganda activities among children, with visits to kindergartens that include displays of combat equipment.

1,000 battalions, hundreds of thousands of volunteers: Iran moves to mass mobilization (Photo: Arab networks)

Iran is also threatening to strike oil infrastructure in the Gulf, data centers and undersea communications cables in the event of renewed fighting. The United States, meanwhile, is preparing to reinforce its forces in the region, including an additional aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit.

Trump has signaled he will not strike Iran before the midterm elections, but has continued to refer to the possibility of future attacks, particularly against the underground facilities of the nuclear program. There is no confirmation at this stage that a decision to resume strikes has been made, but the preparations on both sides point to fears of further escalation after the elections.