ISLAMABAD: A US military strike on Iran could be imminent, a Western military official has warned, according to The New York Times, as the Trump administration weighs a range of options, including cyberattacks and strikes on Iranian government facilities.
Multiple US media reports suggest Washington is actively reviewing possible intervention measures.
The Washington Post, citing a former US official familiar with the planning, reported that at least two European allies were asked this week to share intelligence with the United States on potential target sites inside Iran.
President Donald Trump has indicated that negotiations with Tehran are over, saying in a social media post that he had “cancelled all meetings” with Iranian officials. The White House has also convened senior officials to assess military options, while Trump has signaled support for anti-government protesters in Iran.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump was leaning toward striking Iran as of Monday, citing unnamed US officials. The New York Times separately reported that the Pentagon is considering broader strike options than previously disclosed, including potential targets linked to Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities.
European officials warned that an American strike could be imminent. “All the signals are that a US attack is imminent, but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy,” a Western military official said.
Iran vows to fight back
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official said regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, had been informed that US military bases on their territory would be targeted if Washington launches an attack. The official added that direct contact between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has been suspended.
As tensions rise, Britain has reportedly begun withdrawing some personnel from an air base in Qatar, though London has not issued an official comment. A US official said Washington is also pulling some personnel from bases across the region as a precautionary step.
Qatar confirmed that drawdowns at the Al Udeid air base, the largest US military facility in the Middle East, were underway in response to heightened regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia has moved to avoid being drawn into any conflict. Sources close to the kingdom’s government said Riyadh informed Iran it would not allow its territory to be used for offensive operations.
The US embassy in Saudi Arabia has advised staff and citizens to exercise increased caution and limit non-essential travel to military installations in the region.
Trump says Iran killings stopped
The reports come as Trump said he had been told the killings of protesters in Iran had been halted, but added that he would "watch it and see" about threatened military action.
"They've said the killing has stopped and the executions won't take place — there were supposed to be a lot of executions today, and that the executions won't take place — and we're going to find out," Trump said.
He offered no details and noted that the United States had yet to verify the claims.
Asked by an AFP reporter in the Oval Office if US military action was now off the table, Trump replied: "We're going to watch it and see what the process is."
'No hangings'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later said there would be "no hanging today or tomorrow," in an interview with US network Fox News.
"I can tell you, I'm confident that there is no plan for hanging," Araghchi said, also accusing Israel of orchestrating violence, without providing evidence.
A rights group said separately that the execution of an Iranian man arrested during the wave of protests, 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, would not take place as scheduled on Wednesday, citing relatives.
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