February 27, 2026
With US President Donald Trump authorising the biggest military build-up in years in the region, Iran would be expected to respond to a US attack with strikes on Israel and US bases across the Middle East.
In recent weeks, the US has positioned around 100 aerial refuel tankers, carrier strike groups and fleets of fighters in the region, within striking distance of Iran.
With a large military force assembled in the Middle East, the US State Department said on Friday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Israel next week, where he will discuss Iran.
Rubio's visit is planned for the next scheduled round of talks between Iran and the US. According to Bloomberg, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner left the last round of talks in Geneva disappointed by the lack of progress.
In the early hours of Friday morning, White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, formerly the assistant manager of a Trump-branded golf club, posted a video of US B-2 stealth bombers soundtracked by Metallica's "Enter Sandman".
Sources have told Middle East Eye that several countries belonging to the US-led coalition in Iraq - including France, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Italy - have withdrawn or repositioned troops from Erbil Air Base in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, fearing possible Iranian retaliatory strikes.
On Thursday, Israeli outlet Ynet reported that the chief of Israel's military, Eyal Zamir, has been privately warning of the potentially grave consequences of a new conflict with Iran, while remaining silent on the matter in public.
Western nations warn citizens and workers
On Friday, the US embassy in Jerusalem posted a message on its website saying it had authorised the "departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members" due to "safety risks".
"Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available," the message said.
The French foreign ministry advised its citizens not to travel to Israel and Palestine because of the security situation in Iran.
The announcements come as at least one airline said it would be cancelling flights to Tel Aviv as of 1 March. The Dutch international carrier KLM is stopping its flight to Israel from Amsterdam, citing what it called "operational, commercial challenges".
The UK also announced on Friday that its embassy staff had been temporarily removed from Iran "due to the security situation", while adding that the embassy would continue "to operate remotely".
High-stakes talks have continued between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear programme against the backdrop of rising tensions, with a third round of negotiations between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff and Kushner taking place in Geneva on Thursday.
The Financial Times reported that Iran had offered Trump potential business opportunities, including investment in its oil and gas sector.
One source familiar with the matter said Tehran believed offering the prospect of significant financial returns for the US could appeal to Trump’s deal-making instincts.
Describing the prospect of investment opportunities as "a major economic bonanza", the source said they were "specifically directed at Trump" in fields including oil and gas and mining rights, including critical minerals.
The two sides plan to resume negotiations soon after consultations in their capitals, with technical-level discussions scheduled to take place next week in Vienna.
The move comes as prospect of war
with Tehran grows and US troops are redeployed from bases across the region
The US is allowing staff to
evacuate from its embassy in Jerusalem and the UK has removed officials from
Tehran as the prospect of a war with Iran looms larger.
With US President Donald Trump authorising the biggest military build-up in years in the region, Iran would be expected to respond to a US attack with strikes on Israel and US bases across the Middle East.
In recent weeks, the US has positioned around 100 aerial refuel tankers, carrier strike groups and fleets of fighters in the region, within striking distance of Iran.
With a large military force assembled in the Middle East, the US State Department said on Friday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Israel next week, where he will discuss Iran.
Rubio's visit is planned for the next scheduled round of talks between Iran and the US. According to Bloomberg, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner left the last round of talks in Geneva disappointed by the lack of progress.
In the early hours of Friday morning, White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, formerly the assistant manager of a Trump-branded golf club, posted a video of US B-2 stealth bombers soundtracked by Metallica's "Enter Sandman".
Sources have told Middle East Eye that several countries belonging to the US-led coalition in Iraq - including France, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Italy - have withdrawn or repositioned troops from Erbil Air Base in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, fearing possible Iranian retaliatory strikes.
On Thursday, Israeli outlet Ynet reported that the chief of Israel's military, Eyal Zamir, has been privately warning of the potentially grave consequences of a new conflict with Iran, while remaining silent on the matter in public.
Western nations warn citizens and workers
On Friday, the US embassy in Jerusalem posted a message on its website saying it had authorised the "departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members" due to "safety risks".
"Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available," the message said.
The French foreign ministry advised its citizens not to travel to Israel and Palestine because of the security situation in Iran.
The announcements come as at least one airline said it would be cancelling flights to Tel Aviv as of 1 March. The Dutch international carrier KLM is stopping its flight to Israel from Amsterdam, citing what it called "operational, commercial challenges".
The UK also announced on Friday that its embassy staff had been temporarily removed from Iran "due to the security situation", while adding that the embassy would continue "to operate remotely".
High-stakes talks have continued between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear programme against the backdrop of rising tensions, with a third round of negotiations between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff and Kushner taking place in Geneva on Thursday.
The Financial Times reported that Iran had offered Trump potential business opportunities, including investment in its oil and gas sector.
One source familiar with the matter said Tehran believed offering the prospect of significant financial returns for the US could appeal to Trump’s deal-making instincts.
Describing the prospect of investment opportunities as "a major economic bonanza", the source said they were "specifically directed at Trump" in fields including oil and gas and mining rights, including critical minerals.
The two sides plan to resume negotiations soon after consultations in their capitals, with technical-level discussions scheduled to take place next week in Vienna.
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