The United States has ordered the evacuation of non-essential embassy staff and their dependants from Baghdad due to heightened security risks, the BBC reported citing American government sources.
Officials did not specify what prompted the removal, but have been told Israel was ready to launch an operation into Iran, CBS reported. This was part of the reason some Americans were advised to leave the region, with officials anticipating Iran could retaliate against US sites in Iraq.
The evacuation comes as US talks over Iran’s nuclear programme appear to have stalled in recent days.
Nuclear talks continue despite tensions
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is still planning talks with Iran about its nuclear programme on Sunday, officials told CBS. Witkoff will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat, according to Axios.
A US State Department official told the BBC: “We are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies. Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our mission in Iraq.”
Speaking at the Kennedy Center, President Donald Trump told reporters Americans were advised to leave the region “because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens”.
Military preparations escalate
Trump reiterated that the US would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. The president has hoped to strike a deal to stop Tehran developing nuclear weapons capability.
Earlier this week, Trump held a 40-minute phone call, described as “tense”, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long advocated military rather than diplomatic approaches.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth approved voluntary departure of families of American military personnel from countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait and Bahrain, Reuters reported.
IAEA raises concerns
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors meets in Vienna on Monday to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme. The meeting follows an IAEA report criticising “less than satisfactory” cooperation from Tehran, particularly in explaining past nuclear material found at undeclared sites.
Iran called the IAEA report unbalanced, claiming it relied on “forged documents” provided by Israel.
Testifying before Congress on Wednesday, Pentagon officials said they believed there were “plenty of indications” that Iran was “moving their way towards something that would look a lot like a nuclear weapon”.
Iran maintains its uranium enrichment programme serves civilian energy generation and denies seeking atomic weapons.
Regional implications
Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said his country would retaliate against US bases in the region if talks failed and Trump ordered military strikes against Iran.
The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations warned that increased Middle East military tensions could affect shipping. Oil prices initially rose more than 4% following news of the US evacuation, anticipating potential supply disruptions.
Around 2,500 US troops are based in Iraq, according to the defence department. In January 2020, Iran fired missiles at air bases housing US forces in Iraq following the US strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Whilst no US personnel were killed, dozens were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.
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