In the run-up to both the Oct. 27 Israeli elections and the Nov. 3 U.S. midterms, American intelligence and diplomatic circles are beating the drums of war—hard. Getting most publicity in the mass media is a warning by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton that U.S. diplomats in the Middle East region may be the targets of Iranian assassination plots. “Specifically, through various channels, we have received intelligence that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel,” Clayton wrote in an unclassified memo conveniently obtained and published by Axios. “The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack told Mario Nawfal in an interview on his X channel that U.S. bombing of Iran could begin this weekend. “Absolutely,” he replied when asked if there could be a strike on Iran this weekend. “The president has been clear, I’m giving you an American policy.” Barrack claimed that regime change won’t be a consequence of U.S. strikes. “The United States, the president of the United States, has said he’s not interested in regime change,” he said, ending with an unintelligible flourish: “He’s interested in rebalancing so that there’s no hostages, there’s no threats, and the world can calm down and ensure of what’s there.”