Following a series of attacks, allegedly by Israel, targeting its nuclear and military installations and high-ranking officials, Iran has declared that the U.S., as Israel’s “backer,” will be held “fully accountable.” This statement intensifies concerns about potential retaliatory actions against U.S. bases located near Iran.

In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Iran’s U.N. Mission condemned the attacks, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including an Iranian official reportedly involved in nuclear talks with the U.S., and two nuclear scientists. The mission asserted that Israel’s actions in the region “poses a serious threat to international security.”

Earlier in the week, prior to a scheduled meeting between Washington and Tehran in Oman to discuss nuclear negotiations, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that if Israel were to strike Iran again, U.S. bases in the region would be targeted.

According to Reuters, Nasirzadeh stated that “Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don’t come to fruition,” following reports that Jerusalem was considering an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He added, “If a conflict is imposed on us … all U.S. bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries.”

The Trump administration previously reduced the staff at the U.S. embassy in Iraq and authorized the departure of military dependents from various locations in the Middle East, but the exact number of Americans expected to leave the region remains unclear.

President stated on Thursday that the decision was made out of caution, telling reporters “I had to do it.”

“We have a lot of American people in this area. And I said, we got to tell them to get out because something could happen soon, and I don’t want to be the one that didn’t give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings,” he said, referencing the potential military escalation between Israel and Iran.

In October 2024, defense officials reported that approximately 40,000 service members were stationed throughout the Middle East, many within striking distance of Iran.

The U.S. military has numerous scattered across the region, with eight considered permanent, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

These sites are situated in countries bordering or near Iran geographically, including Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates.

However, Iran’s lack of an immediate defensive response to has raised questions about its capacity to engage in a conflict with the U.S. and potentially create a third front.

Benham Ben Taleblu, an Iran expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Digital, “Given the fact that in January 2020, Iran launched short-range, precision strike ballistic missiles at for killing Qasem Soleimani – the regime’s chief terrorist – this is not a theoretical exercise.” He added, “The regime has proven an ability to land blows at these bases before.”

“It is possible, and it’s not theoretical, given that the regime has done this in the past and lived to tell the tale,” he stated.

Ben Taleblu believes that Iran is currently seeking to ensure that the U.S. not only avoids direct conflict with Tehran but also distances itself from Israel.

The expert added, “There is a political element to the regime continuously threatening America, which is to try to take advantage of the desire for de-escalation that exists in America,” and “To try to put as much daylight between America and Israel as possible, and to turn America from an ally or partner of Israel, into just observer of yet another Middle East crisis.”

“This is how Tehran is politically, trying to put America on the sidelines when militarily, it might struggle – militarily, it would struggle,” Ben Taleblu concluded.