The United States has begun a partial evacuation of its embassy in Baghdad, ordering the departure of non-essential staff and their dependants due to escalating security threats in the region, government sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The move comes amid heightened fears of a potential military confrontation between Israel and Iran, with US officials reportedly informed that Israel is preparing for a possible operation targeting Iranian assets. Washington fears Tehran may retaliate by targeting American sites in Iraq.
Although no specific threat has been disclosed, the State Department emphasized that the decision was based on a comprehensive reassessment of the security landscape. A spokesperson stated that the embassy’s “footprint” in Iraq would be reduced in response to “current risks.”
President Donald Trump, addressing reporters at the Kennedy Center, confirmed the move, noting that Americans had been advised to exit the region. “It could be a dangerous place,” he said, adding, “We’re not going to allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon.”
US efforts to restart nuclear negotiations with Tehran appear to be faltering. Talks are expected to resume on Sunday in Muscat, where US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is due to meet with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to Axios.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified following a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which criticized Iran’s lack of transparency concerning nuclear material discovered at undeclared sites. Iran dismissed the findings as biased and based on forged Israeli documents.
Earlier this week, Trump held a tense 40-minute phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader, a longtime critic of diplomacy with Iran, has consistently urged a military approach to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has also approved the voluntary departure of military families stationed in Middle Eastern countries including Kuwait and Bahrain. The Pentagon told Congress there are “plenty of indications” that Iran may be progressing toward the development of a nuclear weapon.
Iran maintains that its uranium enrichment program is strictly for peaceful energy purposes. However, recent statements by Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that Tehran would strike US military bases if attacked.
As military tensions rise, the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations, part of the Royal Navy, issued warnings about potential threats to shipping routes in the Gulf. Oil prices spiked by over 4% after news of the US evacuation broke, amid fears of regional supply disruptions.
With approximately 2,500 American troops still based in Iraq, memories remain fresh of the January 2020 Iranian missile strike on US forces in response to the killing of General Qasem Soleimani. While no deaths occurred, dozens of troops were later treated for brain injuries.
