The United States has advised some personnel to leave its largest military base in the Middle East, located in Qatar, following explicit threats from Tehran that it will strike American targets in the region if Washington attacks Iran.
Evacuation Orders and Heightened Readiness
Three diplomats confirmed to Reuters that staff at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar were told to depart by Wednesday evening. This sprawling facility houses approximately 10,000 US troops and serves as a critical hub for American operations in the region.
The move comes after a senior Iranian official warned neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey, that US bases on their soil would be attacked if Washington launched strikes against Iran. The official urged these nations to prevent any American military action.
Echoing this stance, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi, stated that Tehran is at the “highest level of readiness” to respond to any US assault. He further claimed that Iran's missile stockpile has grown since the brief conflict in June, often referred to as the Twelve-Day war.
Trump's Threats and the Protest Crackdown
The escalating military rhetoric is directly linked to President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to take “very strong action” against Iran if its government begins executing protesters. The nationwide protests, triggered by domestic issues, have been met with a severe crackdown.
According to the US-based HRANA rights group, at least 2,571 people have died in the unrest, including 2,403 protesters and 147 government-affiliated individuals. Iranian state television has offered a rare, initial acknowledgement of the high death toll.
Human rights expert Awyer Shekhi from the Kurdish organisation Hengaw described the regime's response as one of the “most severe in recent memory,” stating the scale of killings in major cities like Tehran was unprecedented.
Diplomatic Channels Severed and International Reaction
In a significant diplomatic deterioration, direct communications between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended. A senior Iranian official cited Trump's threats as undermining diplomatic efforts, leading to the cancellation of planned talks on the nuclear dispute.
Turkey has attempted to mediate, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressing the need for dialogue in calls with his Iranian counterpart. Ankara is also reportedly in touch with US officials.
Meanwhile, China has reiterated its opposition to external interference in Iran's affairs, with foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stating Beijing does not condone the use or threat of force in international relations.
The situation remains volatile, with the evacuation from Al Udeid mirroring precautions taken ahead of US airstrikes on Iran in June 2025, signalling that both sides are preparing for a potential major escalation.
