ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – United States President Donald Trump on Thursday said that an Israeli attack on Iran “could very well happen,” adding that non-essential American personnel are being moved out of the Middle due to a possible escalation in the region “soon”.

Reports of a potential Israeli strike on Iran have circulated over the past 24 hours, after the US State Department announced it was shrinking its diplomatic missions in several countries in the Middle East and authorized American dependents and non-military personnel to leave the region.

“I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like something that could very well happen,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday, reiterating that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

The American president claimed that they are “fairly close” to an agreement with Iran, adding that he would prefer Israel not to attack as long as there is a chance for a deal.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if the two sides cannot reach a deal on the nuclear issue.

“I’d much prefer an agreement, as long as I think there is an agreement, I don’t want them [Israel] going in, because I think it would blow it. Might help it, actually, but it also could blow it,” Trump added.

Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh on Wednesday threatened that the US “will be forced to leave the region” if it decides to pursue any “aggression” against Tehran in the event of a breakdown in the nuclear talks.

“All of its [the US’] bases are within our reach, and we have access to them, and we will target them all in the host countries without consideration,” said Nasirzadeh.

Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on Thursday said they are ready for any scenario, warning Iran’s rivals to “think carefully about the consequences of their actions.”