In what appears to be preparation for a potentially dramatic development, the US Embassy in Iraq is making arrangements for an immediate evacuation due to security risks, Reuters reported Wednesday evening, citing Iraqi security officials and American sources.
Earlier in the day, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that if negotiations fail and a conflict breaks out with the US, Iran would target American bases in the region. "Some officials on the other side are threatening confrontation if the talks do not bear fruit. If war is forced upon us... all American bases are within our reach, and we will strike them boldly in the host countries," Nasirzadeh told reporters.
He added that last week Iran had conducted a test of a missile carrying a 2-ton warhead, a development that signals Tehran's advancing military capabilities.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning about rising tensions in the Persian Gulf, cautioning that the situation could escalate into military action. The UKMTO advised all vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman to remain on high alert and report any suspicious activity.
Pessimism is growing on both sides ahead of the next round of negotiations, scheduled for Sunday. The central point of contention remains uranium enrichment on Iranian soil. Both sides have made it clear this is a red line - Tehran is demanding explicit recognition of its right to enrich uranium, while the US insists Iran must not be allowed what it views as a pathway to a nuclear weapon.
