“I think the threat is imminent,” Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East said in an exclusive broadcast interview with NBC News in the Iraqi capital.

Gen. McKenzie believes the Iranians or their proxies may orchestrate an attack at any moment, “we continually evaluate our force posture in the region.”

The U.S. has beefed up its military presence in the region in an effort to deter Iran and protect American forces and allies.