US President Donald Trump's rhetoric on the conflict between Israel and Iran could indicate he is increasingly inclined to join the Israeli offensive, according to Israeli foreign policy expert Professor Amnon Aran, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.
Trump's heated rhetoric on social media signals he is moving closer to a position that will be "very difficult to back down from", Aran said.
"All of President Trump's statements reflect a gradual shift towards a more interventionist attitude," Aran said.
According to him, now "we are definitely closer than ever" until the US entered the conflict.
The day before, Donald Trump made several statements on his social network Truth Social. In particular, he wrote that Washington's patience was running out and demanded unconditional surrender from Iran.
Later, sources from the BBC's American partner, CBS, reported that Trump was considering joining Israel in attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, including the uranium enrichment plant in Fordow. According to CBS, this was the topic of discussion at a meeting between Trump and the US National Security Council.
Thousands of people left Tehran on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said they should leave the capital.
Israel has told residents in a southwestern district of Tehran to evacuate so that its air force can strike Iranian military sites. Iranian media reported heavy traffic on roads leading from the capital to the northern provinces.
The authorities have imposed restrictions on the amount of fuel that can be purchased. Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejjad told state television that the restrictions were introduced to prevent shortages, but there would be no problem supplying fuel to the population.
Explosions were heard in Israel over Tel Aviv. The military said two salvos of Iranian missiles were fired at Israel in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported clashes early Wednesday between security forces and unidentified gunmen in the city of Ray, south of Tehran, adding that the attackers may have ties to Israel and were aiming to carry out "terrorist operations in densely populated areas of the capital".
Iranian officials have reported at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, although that number has not been updated for days. Iran has fired about 400 missiles at Israel since Friday, about 40 of which have penetrated air defenses, killing 24 people, all civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel began repatriating citizens stranded abroad on Wednesday, launching a phased airlift operation after the country's surprise military strike on Iran left tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad.
The prospect of the United States getting involved in the war has rattled international markets. Israel says its primary goal is to destroy Iran's nuclear program, but Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Fordow is buried under a mountain, where only specialized American bombs could likely reach it.