Israel ‘ready to launch attack on Iran soon’

Israel is reportedly preparing to launch an attack on Iran, as a resolution in Tehran’s nuclear talks with Washington appear increasingly unlikely.

Iraqi counter-terrorism forces stand guard in front of the US embassy in Baghdad. Picture: AFP

Israel reportedly appears to be ready to launch an attack on Iran, as a resolution in Tehran’s nuclear talks with Washington appear increasingly unlikely.

The New York Times and CBS, citing US officials, report that an Israeli strike is expected soon, in a step that could lead to conflagration in the Middle East.

Concerns over a potential strike as the talks hit an impasse have led to the United States to withdraw non-essential staff and their families from their Middle East embassies and military bases.

The US State Department said it had ordered the departure of all non-essential personnel from the US Embassy in Baghdad, Bahrain and Kuwait, while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth “has authorised the voluntary departure of military dependants from locations” across the region, US Central Command said in a statement.

Donald Trump confirmed the move on Thursday (AEST), telling reporters personnel were being moved because the region was “potentially dangerous”.

Speaking at an event at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, Mr Trump said of Iran: “They can’t have a nuclear weapon, very simple.”

Tensions in the region have been rising in recent days amid doubts over any outcome in negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which are centred around Iran’s nuclear program.

The sticking point is the enrichment of uranium which Iran insists on continuing “for civilian purposes,” but which Washington has declared as a red line.

The next round of talks – the sixth – had been tentatively scheduled for this weekend in Oman but there are doubts whether they will go ahead. US and Israeli media have reported that it looked increasingly unlikely they’d happen, but late on Thursday (AEST) the Axios news site reported that Mr Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was still planning to travel to Oman meet with his Iranian counterpart on Sunday.

It is unclear how extensive an attack the Israeli military might be preparing, but an Iranian official told The New York Times the country’s top military and government leaders had already met to prepare a response, planning an immediate counter-attack against Israel with hundreds of ballistic missiles.

Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh told reporters that if the talks fail, Iran would strike American bases.

“Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don’t come to fruition. If a conflict is imposed on us … all US bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in host countries,” Mr Nasirzadeh said, according to the Saudi owned al-Hadath TV channel. .

Sources familiar with US intelligence said there was some evidence that Iran-backed militias in Iraq and other parts of the region were preparing to attack US interests in the region, the Saudi owned Al-Arabiya TV channel reports.

As tensions escalate, the head of US forces in the Middle East – head of Central Command – reportedly postponed testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

CentCom commander General Erik Kurilla cancelled his appearance to return to military headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

Today @SecDef confirmed that Iran’s terrorist regime is actively working towards a nuclear weapon.

For the sake of our national security, the security of our allies, and millions of civilians in the region this cannot be allowed to happen.

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 11, 2025

Mr Hegseth on Thursday (AEST) confirmed to US officials that Iran was actively working to build a nuclear weapon, while Iran’s Supreme National Security Council called an emergency meeting, and put all Revolutionary Guard bases on maximum alert, according to Iranian media.

Tehran has also activated Russian Pantsir-S1 air defences around nuclear facilities involved in enriching uranium.

Announcing the successful testing of a ballistic missile equipped with a two-tonne warhead, General Nasirzadeh told reporters any strike on the country “would be met with a swift and devastating response”.

“Iran’s armed forces are fully equipped and have the upper hand in any conflict” he said.

“If conflict is imposed on us, the opponent’s casualties will certainly be more than ours, and in that case, America must leave the region, because all its bases are within our reach,” he said. “We have access to them, and we will target all of them in the host countries without hesitation.”

Israel has consistently threatened to strike Iran “quickly” if talks fail, although the US President has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from such action.

Mr Trump, who has previously said Israel or the US could carry out air strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities if negotiations failed, said on Wednesday (AEST) Tehran’s attitude had hardened recently and their negotiators were getting more “aggressive”.

The US President told the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast that he was "getting more and more less confident about” a deal.

“They seem to be delaying, and I think that’s a shame. I’m less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago. Something happened to them,"

Mr Trump’s remarks came after a tense conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the Israeli Prime Minister reportedly told his US counterpart the talks were futile.

“Iran is playing you guys and all they’re trying to do is buy time,” Mr Netanyahu said, according to Israel’s state broadcaster Kan.

Kan reports that Mr Trump responded: “Your statements about attacking Iran are not helping. We’re working on a deal.”

Kan also reported that Israel was readying for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities if the talks failed.

“The Air Force and other IDF branches are continuing preparations for the attack. In recent weeks, the Air Force has gained operational experience in long-range strikes when Israel attacked in Yemen, 2000 kilometres from Israeli territory – greater than the distance to Iran,” Kan reported on its website.

The UK has also warned of “increased tensions” in the region, as the country’s maritime trade agency urged commercial vessels transiting the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz to use heightened caution.

In an advisory on its website, the UK Marine Trade Operations Centre said it had “been made aware of increased tensions within the region which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners”.

The advisory, which is overseen by the British navy, didn’t name Iran, although those waterways have seen Iranian ship seizures and attacks in the past.

Iran’s mission to the UN posted on social media that “threats of overwhelming force won’t change the facts”.

“Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and US militarism only fuels instability,” the Iranian mission wrote.

AP