The U.S. State Department has authorized non-essential personnel and family members of diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Israel to leave the country, as concerns intensify that a military confrontation with Iran could be imminent.

In an email sent Friday morning to staff at the Jerusalem mission, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged those who wish to depart to act without delay, advising that they “should do so TODAY.”

“Focus on getting a seat to anyplace from which you can then continue travel to DC,” added the former Arkansas governor in the message, first reported by the New York Times, “but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country.”

Huckabee said the authorization for voluntary departures was taken out of “an abundance of caution.”

“There is no need to panic,” he wrote, “but for those desiring to leave, it’s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later.”

The warning came after indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday regarding Tehran’s nuclear program ended without progress. Further negotiations are expected to resume next week in Vienna, Austria.

Amid the diplomatic stalemate, officials are bracing for the possibility that Iran could respond to any U.S. military action with ballistic missile strikes against Israel.

During the 12-day war with Iran this past June, 33 Israelis were killed and more than 3,200 were wounded in missile and drone attacks.

As Thursday’s discussions wrapped up, Iranian state television reported that Tehran remains committed to continuing uranium enrichment, opposes transferring enriched material abroad, and is demanding the immediate removal of international sanctions. The report said Iran rejected three demands presented by U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Iran’s leadership has also declined to expand the negotiations to include its ballistic missile arsenal or its backing of terror organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Although the White House did not issue an official statement on the Geneva talks, Vice President JD Vance told the Washington Post “there is no chance” that a U.S. strike on Iran would spiral into a prolonged war in the Middle East.

“I think we all prefer the diplomatic option,” the vice president added. “But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say.”

Reports indicate that President Trump is weighing several potential courses of action, including targeted attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, as well as possible “decapitation” strikes aimed at eliminating Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures in an effort to pave the way for regime change.

{Matzav.com}