TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States has been informed that Israel is fully prepared to launch an attack on Iran, according to multiple sources cited by CBS News on Wednesday night.
U.S. officials are reportedly anticipating potential retaliation from Iran, specifically targeting American assets in neighboring Iraq. This concern contributed to the U.S. advising some of its citizens to leave the region last Wednesday.
The U.S. Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel from Iraq, citing "increased regional tensions." Meanwhile, a defense official told CBS News that the Pentagon has approved the voluntary departure of military family members from the Middle East.
President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, still intends to proceed with the sixth round of talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program in the coming days, according to two U.S. officials.
Speaking at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, Trump addressed the situation, telling reporters that Americans were advised to evacuate the area "because it could be a dangerous place, and we will see what happens."
Trump reaffirmed the U.S. position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, "We're not going to allow that."
When asked at the White House about the departure of military personnel, Trump responded, "You'll have to see."
On the other side, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh told reporters Wednesday that if nuclear talks collapse and "conflict is imposed on us," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps "will target all U.S. bases in the host country."
The Trump administration has been pushing for an agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear activities, amid reports from international monitors that Tehran continues to enrich uranium close to weapons-grade levels.
The negotiations remain complex, and the proximity of both sides to a potential deal is unclear. Trump reiterated earlier this week that he would not accept any form of uranium enrichment by Iran, while Iranian officials have signaled that such a demand is unacceptable.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long opposed any deal with Iran, a nation that has been a staunch adversary since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Netanyahu’s office recently stated that Israel has carried out "countless overt and covert operations" to obstruct Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Last month, Trump disclosed that he had advised Netanyahu against attacking Iran during ongoing negotiations with Tehran.
"I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution," Trump said.
Iran’s nuclear program has existed for decades, with Tehran consistently claiming that its intentions are strictly peaceful.
In 2015, former President Barack Obama reached a deal with Iran to limit its uranium enrichment capabilities. The agreement was met with skepticism by Netanyahu, who accused Iran of secretly violating the terms.
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal during his first term and reimposed heavy sanctions, prompting Iran to significantly increase its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
A report released two weeks ago by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated that Iran has enriched 408.6 kilograms of uranium to a 60 percent purity level, just short of the 90 percent needed for nuclear weapons. This marks a substantial rise from the 274.8 kilograms reported by the UN agency in February.
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