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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to make a quick trip to Israel early next week, as tensions between the United States and Iran remain sky-high after their latest round of nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday.
It also comes as the US continues to build up its strike force in the region.
On Thursday, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, left the Souda Bay base in Crete as talks commenced in Geneva. It was unclear where it was headed, but Israeli media say the supercarrier is set to arrive at Israeli coasts on Friday.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran to finalise a nuclear deal with Washington “before it is too late”. Commenting on the Geneva talks, Trump said he was “not thrilled” with Iran’s attitude in the talks, adding that he had not yet decided on whether to attack.
“I’m not happy with the fact that they’re not willing to give us what we have to have. So I’m not thrilled,” Trump told reporters.
The announcement of Rubio’s visit could however indicate a longer timeline for any potential strike. The State Department said the top US diplomat’s visit on Monday and Tuesday aims to discuss regional priorities, including Iran, Lebanon and Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.
The announcement of Rubio’s visit came just hours after the US Embassy in Jerusalem implemented “authorised departure” status for non-essential personnel and family members, which means that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense.
In an email, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington.
“Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY,” Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for “authorised departure.”
“While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be,” he added, in an email seen by the Associated Press.
The advisory adds the US to a slew of countries who have also urged their citizens to evacuate Israel. Germany, France, Australia, Canada and the UK have also urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel, given the heightened tensions.
A number of countries, including China and Kazakhstan, have also urged citizens to evacuate and avoid travel to Iran.
Iran and the United States on Thursday walked away from another round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva without a deal. Technical discussions are scheduled to take place in Vienna next week.
US Vice President JD Vance was also to reportedly meet later on Friday in Washington with Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks.
Earlier, al-Busaidi said that there had been significant progress made on Thursday, though officials from Iran and the United States haven’t announced steps forward.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said “what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side,” without offering specifics.
Iran has long demanded relief from heavy international sanctions in return for taking steps to limit but not end its nuclear program.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meanwhile urged Iran and the US “to focus on the diplomatic track” even as tensions rise and a potential for a US strike remains very possible.
Trump has reiterated that his administration is not seeking military solution to the crisis, and are hopeful that a deal can be reached, but has doubled-down on resorting to strike force if necessary.
“I don’t want to use military force, but sometimes we have to,” said the US president on Friday.
Additional sources • AP
