Iran has begun military drills focused on "enemy movements", according to state media reports on Thursday, as tensions with the US and Israel mount over the country's nuclear programme.
The country also announced plans to open a new uranium enrichment facility, following accusations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it has breached its non-proliferation commitments.
Tensions escalated late on Wednesday after former President Donald Trump ordered the evacuation of non-essential staff from the US embassy in Baghdad. According to CBS News, family members of military personnel have also been authorised to voluntarily leave other countries in the region.
Several US media outlets have reported that Israel was considering launching a military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. CBS News reported that Israeli officials had informed their US counterparts that preparations for such a strike were already underway.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have reportedly convened to discuss a potential response to any Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities. According to The New York Times, Iran’s contingency plan includes launching a counterstrike involving hundreds of ballistic missiles aimed at Israel in the immediate aftermath.