
U.S. on Edge as Potential Israeli Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Looms
According to reports, Israel is preparing to launch an immediate attack on Iran should the current negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic fail.
According to reports, growing concerns over a possible Israeli strike on Iran have put the US on high alert. According to the Washington Post, the Trump administration is concerned that if existing negotiations between Washington and Tehran over the latter’s nuclear program fail, the Jewish state would decide to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities without the United States’ approval.
In light of these worries, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he would be withdrawing US troops from the Middle East, particularly Iran, as “it could be a dangerous place.” According to the Post, the Pentagon is allowing military families to voluntarily leave US bases throughout the area, and the US State Department has also permitted certain employees to leave Iraq.
US-Iran Nuclear Discussions
Trump’s waning prospects of reaching an agreement with Tehran that would limit Iran’s nuclear program and prevent another possibly catastrophic Middle East war following the Israel-Hamas war coincide with the heightened security. Trump declared on Wednesday that the US will not permit Iran to possess nuclear weapons.
They are unable to possess a nuclear weapon. They just cannot possess a nuclear weapon,” he stated.
The Danger of Israel
Israel is preparing to launch a swift attack on Iran in the event that current negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic fail, according to a report published last month by Axios. “Bibi is waiting for the nuclear talks to collapse and for the moment Trump will be disappointed about the negotiations and open to giving him the go-ahead,” the journal said, citing sources who used the nickname of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump also stated earlier Wednesday in an interview with the New York Post that he was becoming “less confident” that Tehran would agree to halt enriching uranium, a crucial American requirement, and that he would strike Iran if stalled talks over its nuclear program fail.
However, US intelligence officials have allegedly expressed fear in recent months that Tel Aviv would attack Iran’s nuclear sites without US approval. According to the Post, such a move may trigger a response from Iran against US assets in the region and jeopardise the Trump administration’s fragile nuclear negotiations.
Tehran’s Warning
As Israel’s largest military and political ally, Tehran has warned time and again that if Israel were to strike Iran, the United States would be held accountable. Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh declared on Wednesday that Iran would strike US bases in the area in retaliation if it became the target of strikes.
US Wary
All US embassies within striking distance of Iranian assets, including those in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Northern Africa, were recently directed by Washington to establish emergency action committees and communicate with their home countries via cables with risk mitigation measures. According to reports, the State Department has also approved voluntary withdrawals from Kuwait and Bahrain.
As a result of that process, Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided on Wednesday to revise the global travel recommendation to take into account the most recent U.S. stance. “On June 11, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel due to heightened regional tensions,” the alert stated.
With bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, the United States maintains a military presence throughout the main oil-producing area.