Two European officials revealed late Wednesday that United States military action against Iran could occur within the next 24 hours, according to a Reuters report that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic channels.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that President Donald Trump appears to have made the decision to intervene militarily, though specific details regarding the scope and exact timing of any potential operation remain undisclosed.
The developments come as the United States begins withdrawing personnel from critical military installations across the Middle East as a precautionary measure, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed American official familiar with the matter.
These evacuations follow stark warnings from Tehran to neighboring countries.
A senior Iranian official disclosed to Reuters earlier Wednesday that Iran has put regional nations hosting American troops on notice that any U.S. military bases on their soil would become targets if Washington launches strikes against the Islamic Republic.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Britain has begun its own withdrawal operations, pulling some personnel from an airbase in Qatar ahead of possible American military action, according to a report from the i newspaper Wednesday.
The British move mirrors the American drawdown currently underway in the region, the outlet added.
Poland issued an urgent advisory Wednesday calling for its citizens to evacuate Iran immediately.
The Polish foreign ministry made the announcement in a post on X.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges the immediate departure from Iran and advises against all travel to this country,” the ministry stated.
Italy joined the growing chorus of nations urging their citizens to leave Iranian territory.
The Italian foreign ministry released a statement Wednesday appealing to Italians to depart due to deteriorating security conditions.
Approximately 600 Italian nationals currently remain in Iran, with the majority concentrated in the Tehran metropolitan area, according to the foreign ministry.
These international warnings come less than a day after the US urged its citizens to leave Iran, providing specific guidance to consider land routes through Turkey or Armenia for departure, according to a notice released Tuesday by the US virtual embassy in Tehran.
“US citizens should leave Iran now. Consider departing Iran by land to Turkiye or Armenia, if safe to do so,” the official notice stated.
American military personnel stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar received specific orders to depart the installation by Wednesday evening, Reuters reported.
The instructions arrived amid escalating warnings from Washington regarding potential intervention to protect protesters inside Iran.
Al Udeid represents the largest American military installation in the Middle East, housing approximately 10,000 troops and serving as a crucial hub for US operations in the region.
The US embassy in Doha declined to provide immediate comment on the reported drawdown, while Qatar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for confirmation or additional information.
One diplomatic source characterized the movement as a “posture change and not an ordered evacuation,” though the diplomat acknowledged not being informed of any specific reasoning behind the tactical adjustment.
Earlier Wednesday, a senior Iranian official revealed to Reuters that Tehran has delivered explicit warnings to regional powers.
The message to countries from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to Turkey made clear that American military bases within their borders would face attack if the United States targets Iran.
“Tehran has told regional countries, from Saudi Arabia and UAE to Turkey, that US bases in those countries will be attacked if the US targets Iran… asking these countries to prevent Washington from attacking Iran,” the official told Reuters.
President Trump has issued repeated warnings to the Islamic Republic that have included explicit threats of military force.
The Post further noted that Trump additionally cautioned Iran against any retaliatory measures, promising American responses at levels “never seen before.”
The Iranian official also confirmed to Reuters that direct diplomatic communications between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended entirely.
The senior official stated that American threats have undermined diplomatic efforts and that potential meetings between the two officials aimed at finding a diplomatic resolution to the decades-long nuclear dispute have been canceled.
These comments validate a statement Trump made Tuesday on his Truth Social platform, where the president announced he had “canceled all meetings with Iranian officials.”
