Trump Administration Braces for Possible Iranian Retaliation in Next 48 Hours
US President Donald Trump (R) arrives to address the nation, alongside US Vice President JD Vance (L), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L) and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (C), from the White House in Washington, DC on June 21, 2025, following the announcement that the US bombed nuclear sites in Iran. President Donald Trump said on June 21, 2025 that the US military has carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. ©Carlos Barria / POOL / AFP

The Trump administration is bracing for potential retaliation from Iran, with the next 48 hours being of particular concern, according to two defense officials and a senior White House official. It’s unclear whether any retaliation would target overseas or domestic locations, or both, the officials said. 

Two officials familiar with military planning said earlier in the week that Iran already has plans on the books to target US bases and assets in the Middle East if the need arises, though they cautioned at the time there were no indications of imminent deployment of the plans.

US bases and assets have been at their highest state of alert for months, but after Israel began warring with Iran on June 13, officials who spoke earlier in the week said concerns were heightened even more about the potential for attacks on US assets from Iran or its proxies in the region.

Comments
  • No comment yet