The United States has ordered the evacuation of non-essential staff and their family members from its embassy in Baghdad due to escalating regional security risks, government sources confirmed.
While officials have not disclosed the precise trigger for the decision, U.S. partners, including CBS News, report that Israeli military operations targeting Iran may be imminent. American officials fear potential retaliatory strikes on U.S. personnel or facilities in Iraq, prompting precautionary measures.
“This is part of the reason why some Americans were advised to leave the region,” one official stated, noting concerns over Iranian reprisals should Israeli action proceed.
The development comes amid faltering nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Despite recent diplomatic setbacks, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat this Sunday, as reported by Axios.
In a statement to the BBC, a U.S. State Department official emphasized the administration’s ongoing review of diplomatic security.
“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,” the official explained.
Speaking at the Kennedy Center, President Donald Trump reaffirmed the precautionary nature of the decision. “Americans were advised to leave the region because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens,” he said. Trump also reiterated his firm stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions: “We’re not going to allow that.”
The president has repeatedly expressed interest in striking a deal to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. However, a recent 40-minute phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was described by sources as “tense,” reflecting ongoing differences over diplomatic versus military strategies.
On Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convened in Vienna to address Iran’s nuclear programme. The IAEA has criticized Iran’s “less than satisfactory” cooperation, particularly regarding undeclared nuclear material. Tehran, in response, condemned the report as biased and based on “forged documents” allegedly supplied by Israel.
As nuclear negotiations hang in the balance, uncertainty remains over whether the U.S. evacuation is a signal to Tehran or a response to credible threats. Iran’s Defence Minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, warned of retaliation against U.S. bases in the region should diplomatic talks collapse or military strikes be launched.
In a broader precautionary move, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the voluntary departure of families of American military personnel from several Middle Eastern countries, including Kuwait and Bahrain, according to Reuters.
Testifying before a congressional panel, Pentagon officials stated there were “plenty of indications” that Iran is edging closer to capabilities that resemble a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its uranium enrichment is solely for civilian energy purposes.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations division, part of the Royal Navy, has issued warnings about potential disruptions to shipping due to heightened military tensions. The price of oil spiked by over 4% following the U.S. evacuation announcement, reflecting market fears of regional instability.
Currently, around 2,500 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq. Tensions remain high following past confrontations, including Iran’s missile strike on American bases in Iraq in January 2020, carried out in retaliation for the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. While no U.S. troops died in the attack, dozens later suffered traumatic brain injuries.
