The United States is preparing for a potential wave of mass casualties if Israel follows through with a long-anticipated strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—a move that could ignite a major conflict across the Middle East.

In a clear sign of escalating tensions, the U.S. State Department on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of all nonessential personnel from the American Embassy in Baghdad. Simultaneously, it authorized the voluntary departure of staff and family members stationed in Bahrain and Kuwait—nations that lie within striking distance of Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also approved the departure of military dependents across key locations in the Persian Gulf. According to a statement from U.S. Central Command, these steps come as the Pentagon closely monitors the situation amid growing fears of regional instability.

Reporters pressed President Donald J. Trump on Thursday about whether an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites is imminent. The president didn’t rule it out.

“I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like it’s something that could very well happen,” President Trump said. “Look, it’s very simple, not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Other than that, I want them to be successful.”

President Trump reminded reporters that he had previously prevented a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, hinting that diplomatic off-ramps may still be on the table in the current standoff.

But a stark warning from U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff—delivered to Senate Republicans last week—has raised alarms in Washington. According to Axios, Witkoff informed lawmakers that “Iran could unleash a mass casualty response if Israel bombs their nuclear facilities,” citing both a U.S. official and a direct source.

Witkoff is slated to hold what could be a final round of nuclear negotiations with Iranian representatives this Sunday, as diplomatic options dwindle.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces are on high alert. Axios reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “waiting for a green light from Trump to make his move.”

Following Iran’s failed missile and drone assault last fall, Israel retaliated with surgical strikes on Iran’s drone production facilities, missile stockpiles, and air defenses. In doing so, Israel has weakened the military capabilities of Tehran’s regional proxies—Hezbollah and Hamas—leaving them far less able to retaliate.

Now, with Iran’s air defenses still degraded, officials believe the current moment offers Israel a strategic opening for a decisive blow.

Even The New York Times acknowledged that Israel could now “more safely launch a new mass attack” on Iranian targets. However, the paper also warned that if Israel waits too long, Tehran may recover its defensive capabilities.

President Trump, unwavering in his stance, has made it clear that uranium enrichment by Iran is off the table.

“Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!” the president posted on social media last week.

Yet Iran remains defiant. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed on Thursday that Tehran will not bend to pressure.

“If they destroy our [nuclear facilities] with a bomb, they will be destroyed. All these capabilities are in our minds, and therefore, whatever they do, we will rebuild,” he said, as quoted by Axios.

Ratcheting up the threats even further, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Gen. Hossein Salami declared that Tehran has already selected its retaliatory targets.

“He stressed Iran’s response to any Israeli attack will be ‘more painful and more destructive’ [than] the two massive missile strikes against Israel last year,” Axios reported.

Those previous strikes, however, were largely thwarted by Israel’s superior missile defense systems, with the Jewish state emerging mostly unscathed.

Still, the threat remains. A U.S. official warned Axios that Iran has increased its missile production to a staggering 50 per month, aiming to overwhelm Israel’s Iron Dome and other defensive networks through sheer volume.

The clock is ticking. The world watches. And the stakes—potentially nuclear—could not be higher.