WASHINGTON/DUBAI/DOHA (Web Desk) : The United States has begun withdrawing some personnel from key military bases in the Middle East as a precautionary measure amid heightened regional tensions, a U.S. official said on Wednesday, following warnings from Iran that American bases could be targeted if Washington launches military strikes.
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Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the move was aimed at safeguarding U.S. personnel as tensions escalate. The development comes after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighboring countries it would retaliate against U.S. bases in the region in the event of an American attack.
Iran’s leadership is currently grappling with its most severe domestic unrest to date, while also seeking to deter repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene in support of anti-government protesters. A Western military official told Reuters that signals suggest the possibility of a U.S. strike, but added that unpredictability has become a hallmark of the current U.S. administration’s strategy.
At the White House, however, President Trump appeared to strike a more cautious tone, telling reporters he was adopting a wait-and-see approach. He said he had been informed that killings during Iran’s crackdown on protests were subsiding and that there was no current plan for large-scale executions. Trump did not disclose his sources, describing them only as “very important sources on the other side.”
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While not ruling out military action, Trump said the administration would closely monitor developments, adding that Washington had received what he termed a “very good statement” from Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied reports of imminent executions, stating there was “no plan” to carry out hangings. In an interview with Fox News, he said executions were “out of the question,” seeking to counter international concerns over Iran’s response to the protests.
