Local and federal authorities across the country are likely preparing for potential threats during Fourth of July celebrations next weekend amid tensions between the United States and the Middle East, according to a former U.S. Secret Service agent.

Tensions escalated on June 22, when the U.S. Military bombed three key nuclear sites in Iran, according to Trump administration officials.

“Due to the Iran conflict, the Department of Homeland Security has a National Threat Advisory System, and as of June 22, we are at a heightened threat environment,” Michael Verden, founder and CEO of security firm The Lake Forest Group, told Fox News Digital. “That level will stay in place until September 22, and it could be extended based on the conflict in Iran.”

Verden, a former USSS agent and law enforcement officer, added that certain 4th of July activities and travel will see increased security and precautionary measures “because of this heightened threat environment.”

“There’s always a little bit of a heightened risk level when it comes to these patriotic [events]. … This is when the Declaration of Independence was ratified on this date. So, there’s always that concern of our adversaries. This would be an opportune time for them to do some type of an attack,” he said.

Map of US strikes on Iran. (Fox News)

A recent assessment released last week by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) found that Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, followed by U.S. bunker-busting strikes, “effectively destroyed Iran’s centrifuge enrichment program.” But authors David Albright and Spencer Faragasso cautioned that “residuals such as stocks of 60%, 20%, and 3-5% enriched uranium and centrifuges manufactured but not yet installed … pose a threat as they can be used in the future to produce weapon-grade uranium.”

According to the ISIS report, “extensive damage” was confirmed at nearly all major Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, including the destruction of uranium metal conversion plants, fuel fabrication centers, and the IR-40 Arak heavy water reactor. The report noted that the Israeli and U.S. strikes “rendered the Fordow site inoperable,” citing high-resolution satellite imagery of deep bunker penetrations.

The bunker strikes have prompted conversations about Iranian retaliation against the United States.