Trump Administration on High Alert Over Potential Iranian Retaliation, NBC News Reports
NBC News reports the Trump administration is on high alert, fearing Iranian retaliation within 48 hours after U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. U.S. officials are monitoring threats to both domestic and overseas assets amid rising tensions and stalled diplomacy.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Trump administration is on heightened alert over the prospect of Iranian retaliation in the coming days, with the next 48 hours being described as particularly critical, according to a report published by NBC News on Sunday.
Citing two U.S. defense officials and a senior White House official, NBC News journalists Courtney Kube and Monica Alba reported that there are mounting concerns in Washington that Iran may respond to recent U.S. and Israeli military actions with strikes of its own—either on American assets abroad or potentially within U.S. territory.
“It’s unclear whether any retaliation would target overseas or domestic locations, or both,” NBC News quoted the officials as saying. However, officials emphasized the seriousness of the threat, noting that Iranian forces and their regional proxies have long prepared contingency plans for such a scenario.
Earlier in the week, NBC News reported that two officials familiar with military planning confirmed the existence of operational plans by Iran to target U.S. bases and military assets in the Middle East if necessary. While these plans had not been activated at the time, the current situation—marked by rapid military escalation—has intensified concerns.
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The U.S. military presence in the region has reportedly been at its highest state of alert for several months. However, as NBC News highlighted, the Israeli military's launch of its air campaign against Iran on June 13 further amplified fears of retaliation by Tehran or allied militias.
The NBC report underscores the volatile environment in the wake of the U.S. strike on key Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, which has provoked fierce condemnation from Iranian officials and prompted warnings of broad retaliation.
While the Trump administration has maintained that the strikes were aimed at neutralizing Iran’s nuclear capabilities and deterring further escalation, the latest NBC News findings suggest that U.S. defense and intelligence communities are bracing for unpredictable responses from Tehran.
Officials told NBC News that all relevant agencies are closely monitoring intelligence streams for any indicators of imminent threats. Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remain largely frozen, with regional actors urging restraint.
The coming hours may prove decisive in shaping the trajectory of this high-stakes conflict.
