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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/leave-iran-immediately-western-governments-evacuate-as-us-israel-edge-toward-war/">palestinechronicle.com</a>
<div class="gmail-domain-border"></div><h1 class="gmail-reader-title">\u2018Leave Iran Immediately\u2019 \u2013 Western Governments Evacuate as US\u2013Israel Edge Toward War</h1>February 19, 2026</div>
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<img src="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/iran_russia_forces_drills_irna.png" alt="" title="iran_russia_forces_drills_irna" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" width="496" height="333" style="margin-right: 25px;">
Part of joint military drills
between the Russian and Iranian navies in the Sea of Oman and the
northern Indian Ocean. (Photo: IRNA)
<p><strong>By <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/palestine-chronicle-staff" title="Display all articles for Palestine Chronicle Staff">Palestine Chronicle Staff</a></strong> </p>
<blockquote>
<h4>Evacuation orders and unprecedented military deployments signal
rising odds of US-Israeli strikes despite fragile Geneva diplomacy.</h4>
</blockquote>
<h2>Key Developments</h2>
<ul><li>Poland urged its citizens to leave Iran immediately, warning evacuation could become impossible within hours.</li><li>Germany temporarily relocated dozens of its soldiers from Erbil amid rising regional tensions.</li><li>The US is expanding military deployments, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, additional warships, submarines, and air assets.</li><li>US officials say forces could be ready to strike by the end of the week, though President Trump has not made a final decision.</li><li>Israel has raised its military alert level and is preparing for
possible multi-front escalation, including Hezbollah involvement.</li><li>Israeli officials say coordination with Washington is at \u201cthe highest level,\u201d and a strike option remains on the table.</li><li>IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned that the \u201cwindow of diplomacy\u201d is beginning to close despite ongoing Geneva talks.</li><li>Iran has agreed to submit a written proposal in Geneva, but significant gaps reportedly remain over uranium enrichment.</li></ul>
<h4>Military Build-Up Accelerates</h4>
<p>Western governments are urging their citizens to leave Iran
immediately as the United States dramatically expands its military
footprint across the Middle East and Israel moves to heightened alert,
signaling that diplomacy may be giving way to confrontation.</p>
<p>Poland issued one of the most direct warnings. Prime Minister Donald
Tusk called on Polish nationals to leave Iran \u201cimmediately,\u201d cautioning
that a military conflict could make evacuation impossible within hours.
\u201cPlease leave Iran immediately\u2026 and do not travel to this country under
any circumstances,\u201d Tusk said Thursday, reflecting growing European
alarm.</p>
<p>Germany also confirmed the temporary relocation of dozens of its
soldiers from Erbil in northern Iraq amid escalating regional tensions. A
German Defense Ministry spokesperson told Agence France-Presse that
\u201conly the personnel necessary to maintain operational capabilities
remain on site,\u201d underscoring concerns that the crisis could spill
beyond Iran.</p>
<p>The surge in warnings comes as indirect US-Iran talks continue in
Geneva under Omani mediation. Iran has said the two sides agreed on a
set of \u201cguiding principles,\u201d while US officials have emphasized that
\u201csignificant details remain unresolved.\u201d</p>
<p>Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), warned that time is running out. The latest US military
movements, he said, suggest that \u201cthe window of diplomacy is beginning
to close.\u201d Grossi noted that discussions had for the first time begun to
\u201creally take shape\u201d around concrete steps, but described the task as
\u201cextremely complicated\u201d under mounting escalation.</p>
<h4>Washington Expands Firepower</h4>
<p>Despite the diplomatic messaging, American military deployments have
intensified at a scale described by multiple US outlets as unprecedented
in recent years.</p>
<p>NBC News, citing US officials and open-source intelligence, reported
that the Pentagon is sending additional warships, air defense systems
and submarines to the region in preparation for a possible strike on
Iran. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to arrive in
the Middle East in the coming days, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln
carrier strike group already operating in Gulf waters.</p>
<p>CBS News reported that senior national security officials informed
President Donald Trump that US forces would be ready to conduct strikes
\u201cby the end of the week.\u201d However, Trump has not made a final decision.</p>
<p>CNN reported that the US Air Force has begun relocating fighter jets
and aerial refueling aircraft from bases in Britain to locations closer
to the Middle East. Satellite-tracking accounts on social media have
identified a significant increase in US fighter aircraft, refueling
tankers, and AWACS surveillance planes moving toward Europe and regional
bases.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States now has 13
naval vessels deployed across the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean
to support potential operations. Officials told the newspaper that the
US possesses the firepower to sustain a prolonged air campaign against
Iran if ordered.</p>
<p>The New York Times, citing Pentagon and administration officials,
reported that the Gerald R. Ford may initially deploy near Israel\u2019s
coast to reinforce air defense coordination. A US military official told
the paper that American forces are now positioned to protect US troops
and allies from potential Iranian retaliation.</p>
<p>Axios cited a presidential adviser estimating a \u201c90 percent\u201d
likelihood of military action in the coming weeks, though the figure has
not been officially confirmed.</p>
<p>Vice President J.D. Vance stated that Washington continues to assess
the viability of diplomacy while keeping \u201cother options\u201d on the table.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said diplomacy remains the
president\u2019s \u201cfirst choice,\u201d but confirmed that military options remain
available.</p>
<h4>Israel on High Alert</h4>
<p>Israeli media report that the Israeli army has raised its preparedness level in anticipation of possible US military action.</p>
<p>KAN, Israel\u2019s public broadcaster, reported that the army is \u201cprepared
and alert\u201d in light of a potential US strike. Military spokesperson
Avichay Adraee said, \u201cIf we are attacked, we will respond forcefully.\u201d</p>
<p>According to KAN, alert levels have also been raised along Israel\u2019s
northern border with Lebanon in anticipation of potential escalation
involving Hezbollah. Emergency services have reportedly been instructed
to prepare for multi-front scenarios.</p>
<p>Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said that while
President Trump favors a diplomatic solution, \u201cthe option of a strike on
Iran remains on the table,\u201d urging the Israeli public to prepare for
all possibilities.</p>
<p>The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that security establishment
assessments indicate a rising likelihood of a US strike following the
latest Geneva talks. The paper cited officials saying that \u201csignificant
gaps remain\u201d between Washington and Tehran, particularly over US demands
that Iran abandon uranium enrichment on its own territory.</p>
<p>KAN also reported that Israel is preparing for the possibility of
receiving a US \u201cgreen light\u201d to target Iran\u2019s ballistic missile system.
Close coordination between the two countries continues in intelligence,
communications, and air defense.</p>
<h4>Markets React</h4>
<p>Financial markets have already responded to the mounting tension.
Gulf stock exchanges declined in early trading Thursday as investors
weighed the prospects of diplomatic de-escalation against expanding
military deployments.</p>
<p>Energy markets are closely watching developments. Any disruption to
Gulf shipping lanes or oil infrastructure would likely trigger immediate
global price volatility.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, satellite imagery cited by international media suggests
that Iran has reinforced some of its nuclear facilities with additional
layers of concrete and earth, signaling preparations for potential
strikes.</p>
<h4>Talks Continue</h4>
<p>The military escalation unfolds against the backdrop of indirect
talks in Geneva mediated by Oman. Iranian officials said the sides
agreed on \u201cguiding principles\u201d and that Tehran is prepared to present a
written proposal addressing US concerns.</p>
<p>A senior US official quoted by Reuters confirmed that Washington
expects Iran to submit a written proposal clarifying its position. \u201cWe
are waiting for that now from the Iranians,\u201d the official said.</p>
<p>Since withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018, Washington
has accused Tehran of advancing toward nuclear weapons capability. Iran
maintains that its program is strictly peaceful and has signaled
openness to a new agreement that guarantees non-weaponization in
exchange for sanctions relief.</p>
<p><em>(PC, Anadolu, Al-Maysdeen, AJA, US Media, Iraniuan Media) </em></p>
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