Washington: The United States has begun a partial evacuation of its embassy in Iraq and authorized the voluntary departure of dependants of military and diplomatic personnel from several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, in response to growing regional security threats.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Wednesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had approved the move, citing rising tensions in the region. The US Embassy in Baghdad, already operating with reduced staff, will now see all nonessential personnel ordered to leave. The State Department emphasized that the decision was made with the safety of American citizens as the top priority.
Speaking Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump described the Middle East as a potentially “dangerous place” and defended the withdrawal of embassy staff. Referring to Iran, he reiterated: “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simple. We’re not going to allow that.”
The move comes amid a breakdown in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Talks, which have now stalled, aim to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief. The next round of discussions is expected to take place in Oman this weekend, with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, still slated to attend.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported that US officials believe Israel is prepared to launch a military strike against Iran. In anticipation of potential Iranian retaliation, Washington is reportedly bracing for possible attacks on American facilities in Iraq.
In response, Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a statement denying it seeks nuclear weapons and condemning US “militarism” as a destabilizing force. “Threats of ‘overwhelming force’ won’t change the facts,” the statement read, calling diplomacy the only viable solution.
Iranian Defence Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh, speaking separately, expressed hope for a diplomatic resolution but warned of Iran’s readiness to defend itself. “If conflict is imposed on us, the opponent’s casualties will certainly be more than ours,” he said, asserting that all US bases in the region are within Iran’s reach and would be targeted if necessary.
The situation remains tense, with both sides signaling readiness for confrontation even as diplomatic efforts continue.
