A report from Reuters citing European officials has alleged that the United States is planning an attack on Iran within the next 24 hours. The news comes as the Trump administration has been escalating their threats towards Tehran amidst widespread protests across the country.
The report from the international news agency came as a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighboring countries that host U.S. forces that American bases on their territory could be targeted if Washington strikes Iran. The same official said Iran had urged regional U.S. allies to prevent an attack.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said the United States was withdrawing some personnel from bases in the region as a precaution because of heightened tensions. Qatar confirmed that drawdowns from Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts major U.S. military assets, were underway in response to the current regional situation. Diplomats told Reuters that some personnel had been told to leave, though there were no immediate signs of a mass evacuation like the one that preceded an Iranian missile strike last year.
Reuters said two European officials described U.S. military intervention as increasingly likely, with one saying it could come within the next day. An Israeli official told the news agency it appeared President Donald Trump had decided to intervene, although the timing and scope were unclear.
The warning of possible military action comes amidst Iran's most intense unrest in years. Reuters reported that protests that began about two weeks ago over economic conditions escalated sharply, with Iranian officials estimating that 2,000 people have died in relation to the protests.
The Iranian government has also accused the United States and Israel of fomenting the unrest, while Western officials cited in the report said Iran's security apparatus still appeared in control and that the government did not seem near collapse.
Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention in support of protesters without providing specific operational details. The report noted that in a CBS News interview Tuesday, Trump vowed "very strong action" if Iran executes protesters and urged Iranians to keep protesting. Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly met with the last shah of Iran's son Reza Pahlavi, though the details of the meeting are being kept under wraps.
Iran's efforts to deter an attack have included warning regional states and signaling potential consequences across a Middle East dotted with U.S. facilities. The United States maintains forces across the region, including Al Udeid in Qatar and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The same Iranian official told Reuters that direct contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had been suspended.
