U.S. officials have confirmed that Israel is fully prepared to initiate an operation against Iran, according to multiple sources who spoke with CBS News.
Authorities in the United States anticipate potential retaliation from Iran directed at American sites in neighboring Iraq. This concern has prompted the U.S. government to advise certain Americans to depart the region, with the State Department issuing orders for non-emergency government personnel in Iraq to exit due to “heightened regional tensions.”
In the backdrop of these developments, Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy for President Trump, is still scheduled to meet with Iranian representatives for a sixth round of discussions concerning the country’s nuclear program.
During an event at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, President Trump addressed the situation in Iran, stating that Americans were advised to leave the region due to safety concerns: “because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens.” He reiterated that the U.S. remains steadfast in its goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, affirming, “We’re not going to allow that.”
Both Israeli officials and White House spokespersons declined to provide comments on the situation.
The Trump administration has been pursuing a deal aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with international watchdogs noting that Iran continues to enrich uranium to near weapons-grade levels. Negotiations remain sensitive, and the extent to which progress has been made is uncertain. President Trump has expressed a firm stance against any uranium enrichment by Iran, while Iranian leaders have conveyed that they will not accept such conditions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long been skeptical of any agreements with Iran, and relations between the two nations have been contentious since the 1979 Iranian revolution. Netanyahu’s office claims that Israel has executed “countless overt and covert operations” to hinder the advancement of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Last month, President Trump publicly urged Netanyahu not to launch a strike against Iran while his administration is negotiating with the regime, stating, “I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution.”