Media: US officials warn of imminent Iranian retaliation within 48 hours

US intelligence and defense officials are warning of a heightened risk of an imminent retaliatory strike by Iran, with a potential response expected within the next 24 to 48 hours.

"Iran’s retaliatory attack could happen within the next day or two," one official said, highlighting growing concerns in Washington as tensions in the Middle East continue escalating, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters.

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, US forces launched airstrikes on June 22 targeting key facilities within Iran’s nuclear programme. The strikes, which hit sites in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz, reportedly included the use of bunker-busting munitions designed to penetrate fortified underground structures.

US President Donald Trump defended the strikes, describing them as a necessary move to halt what he called a growing nuclear threat from “the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism.” The US communicated to Tehran via intermediaries that the strikes were a one-time operation—not the beginning of a broader war or a campaign aimed at regime change. 

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a stern warning to Iran, cautioning against any retaliation targeting American forces in the Middle East. He conveyed a message from President Trump stating that any Iranian response would be met with far greater force than the June 22 airstrikes.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that Tehran would respond appropriately to the US attacks, signaling a potential new phase of confrontation between the two countries. Amid growing fears of regional escalation, the US Department of State issued a global security advisory, urging American citizens abroad to exercise increased caution due to the potential for anti-American demonstrations and threats against US interests.

By Naila Huseynova