A US military attack on Iran is assessed as "imminent", British news agency quoted Western military and diplomatic officials as saying on January 14.
According to these sources, all current signals show that Washington has completed the necessary preparation steps, although the scope and scale of action have not yet been determined.
A Western military official said "all signs indicate the possibility that the US is about to attack", but also noted that unpredictability is part of President Donald Trump's administration's strategy. Two other European officials said that US military intervention could take place within the next 24 hours.
Sources from Israel also said that President Donald Trump seems to have made a decision to attack Iran, but it is unclear whether it will be a limited strike or a large-scale campaign.
Meanwhile, the US has begun to evacuate part of its military personnel from bases in the Middle East to prevent retaliatory strikes from Tehran.
US-Iran tensions are escalating sharply in the context of Iran sinking into a wave of protests and riots lasting since the end of December. Protests broke out due to rising inflation and a sharp devaluation of the rial, pushing living costs in this sanctioned country up.
The Tehran government accuses the US and Israel of being behind inciting instability, saying that street violence has killed thousands of people.
In recent days, President Trump has continuously sent tough messages. He called on Iranian protesters to seize control of state agencies, and declared "help is coming". Previously, he said the White House was considering "very strong options" for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The US State Department on January 13 called on all US citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately. This move is considered by observers as a familiar warning sign of potential military actions.
On the Tehran side, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that Iran is not seeking a military confrontation with the US but is "ready for war". He also left open the possibility of negotiations with Washington, provided that the negotiations are "fair, honorable and on an equal footing".
In parallel with political statements, the US has increased its military presence in the region. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it has opened a new missile defense and air defense coordination center at the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar - where about 10,000 US troops are stationed.
This facility has the participation of the US military and allies, aiming to strengthen information sharing, early warning and coordinated response to air and missile threats.
Some personnel at Al Udeid were advised to leave the base before the evening of January 14 for security reasons. Previously, the US had taken similar measures right before launching attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, and this base later became a target of Tehran's retaliation.
Iran has also warned neighboring countries that are allowing the US to use military bases that they could become targets if Washington launches an attack.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar are said to have discreetly urged the US to exercise restraint, fearing a conflict would seriously destabilize the region and disrupt the global oil market.
