President Donald Trump warned Thursday that an Israeli attack on Iran is a possibility as tensions escalate over nuclear negotiations, though he stopped short of calling such action imminent. His comments come as the U.S. begins evacuating some personnel from the Middle East.
According to Fox News, Trump told reporters that while he wouldn't characterize an Israeli strike as imminent, it "looks like it's something that could very well happen" as the United States continues pressuring Tehran on nuclear negotiations.
The president's stark warning follows the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) formal declaration Thursday that Iran is in breach of its non-proliferation obligations – the first such declaration in nearly two decades. This escalation comes ahead of a sixth round of direct and indirect nuclear negotiations scheduled for Sunday in Oman.
Middle East evacuation underway
The State Department has ordered a partial evacuation of non-emergency government personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from various locations across the Middle East.
Trump acknowledged the precautionary measures, telling reporters: "We have a lot of American people in this area. And I said, we got to tell them to get out because something could happen soon, and I don't want to be the one that didn't give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings."
Despite initial reports suggesting similar evacuation orders had been issued for U.S. personnel in Bahrain and Kuwait, the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain clarified that reports it "has changed its posture in any way are false" and that staffing operations remain "unchanged and activities continue as normal."
Iran's nuclear program escalates
The IAEA has reported that Iran increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium by nearly 35% between February and May of this year. The nuclear watchdog stated that Iran's stores jumped from approximately 605.8 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% to 900.8 pounds by mid-May.
The Institute for Science and International Security issued a concerning assessment, claiming Iran could potentially create at least one nuclear warhead's worth of weapons-grade uranium in as little as two to three days at its Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.
Trump has maintained a firm stance throughout negotiations, stating: "Iran can not have a nuclear weapon. Very simply, they can't have a nuclear weapon. We're not going to allow that." The president added that he would "love to avoid the conflict" but emphasized that Iran would need to negotiate "a little bit tougher."
Negotiations reach critical juncture
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is preparing to head to Oman on Sunday for the sixth round of nuclear negotiations with Iran, as confirmed by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi on Thursday.
The talks have become increasingly strained in recent weeks and appear to have reached an impasse over uranium enrichment levels. The U.S. has repeatedly insisted that Iran must abandon all nuclear enrichment programs, including those for civil energy use – which constitutes less than 1% of Iran's overall energy needs.
Iran has so far flatly refused to give up all nuclear enrichment capabilities. It also remains unclear what Tehran would be required to do with its current stockpiles of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium if an agreement were reached.
Security concerns mounting
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth contradicted earlier intelligence assessments when he told senators on Wednesday, "There are plenty of indications that [Iran has] been moving their way towards something that would look a lot like a nuclear weapon."
This statement stands in contrast to assertions made by the Director of National Intelligence in March that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon. The conflicting assessments have added to the uncertainty surrounding Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The IAEA's Board of Governors declaration of Iran's non-proliferation breach could potentially lead to the issue being taken to the UN Security Council, which might then enforce severe snapback sanctions on Tehran – a move Western security experts have long advocated.
