The U.S. has quietly raised the stakes with Iran, issuing a sweeping evacuation advisory for American citizens and non‑essential diplomatic staff across parts of the Middle East — a move regional officials read as a clear signal that military strikes are now on the table.

Late last night, the State Department urged Americans in high‑risk countries to “leave while commercial options remain available,” while authorizing the departure of families from several embassies and consulates bordering Iran. Within hours, airlines reported a spike in one‑way bookings to Europe and the U.S., as expats scrambled to get seats on already crowded flights.

Pentagon sources insist no final decision on strikes has been made, but confirm that carrier groups, long‑range bombers and air‑defense assets are already in position to hit Iranian targets on short notice. Intelligence officials say the advisory is driven by concern that, if war breaks out, U.S. civilians and diplomats could be instant targets for Iranian missiles, drones or proxy militias.

In Tehran, leaders blasted the move as “theatrics and psychological warfare,” accusing Washington of manufacturing a crisis to justify aggression. But Iranian Revolutionary Guard units have simultaneously gone on heightened alert, relocating missile batteries and dispersing key assets away from known bases and depots.

Allies in Europe and the Gulf are demanding urgent briefings, fearful that a limited U.S. strike on nuclear or military sites could trigger a regional firestorm that closes shipping lanes and sends energy markets into chaos. For millions on the ground watching embassy convoys roll out and hearing talk of “temporary relocation,” the message is unmissable: someone believes the window before the first shot is closing fast.