The Middle East is on a dangerous escalation path, with the US increasing its military presence in the region and international diplomacy attempting a race to contain a generalized conflict.
The State Department announced the extraordinary visit of the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to Israel next Monday. According to the spokesman, Tommy Pigott, the agenda of the talks is focused on Iran, the Lebanon front, as well as advancing President Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza. The visit comes at a particularly critical time, as the US prepares for a possible strike against the Islamic Republic, while non-essential staff at its embassy in Israel have been given permission to leave.
In a parallel diplomatic channel, the US Vice President, Vance, is expected to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman, Sayyed Bad Albusaidi. This meeting in Washington is considered pivotal, as Oman has traditionally acted as a mediator in nuclear contacts between Washington and Tehran.
At the same time, London proceeded with the temporary withdrawal of all its diplomatic staff from Iran, citing the worsening security situation. Britain’s Foreign Office has clarified that its embassy in Tehran will now operate remotely as fears of US strikes intensify.
New ultimatum to Iran
In the nuclear field, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued an urgent appeal to Tehran for “constructive cooperation”. In a confidential report, the Agency underlines the criticality of immediate verification of nuclear materials, warning of the information gap that exists at declared facilities.
It is noted that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi participated in direct talks between the US and Iran in late February, while a new round of technical discussions is scheduled in Vienna for the week of March 2, 2026.
Israel is on high alert
Inside Israel, the military remains on high alert. The IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, in a statement attempted to reassure the population, stressing that there are currently no changes to civil protection directives.
“We are closely monitoring every move in Iran. The armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country,” he said characteristically, acknowledging the climate of uncertainty that prevails in Israeli public opinion.
