The U.S. government is evacuating nonessential staff from its embassy in Baghdad and allowing military families to leave several American bases in the Gulf region, according to two officials from the State Department and Pentagon. The move comes amid growing concerns about regional security, just as a critical round of nuclear talks with Iran approaches. Tehran has recently threatened to launch missile strikes on U.S. bases if its nuclear facilities are targeted.
Israeli officials have also reported heightened readiness within the IDF, anticipating possible escalation with Iran. These developments follow a national security meeting President Trump held at Camp David three days earlier to discuss Iran. Speaking at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Trump confirmed that U.S. personnel were being relocated from the region. “It could be a dangerous place, we’ll see what happens,” he said, reiterating that the U.S. would never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Tensions also spiked after the U.K. government’s maritime trade division issued an alert on Wednesday warning ships in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz to exercise caution due to the risk of military escalation. A few hours later, preparations began to evacuate nonessential staff from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
Trump had previously set a two-month deadline for reaching a new nuclear agreement with Iran, a window that now closes this week. While he has repeatedly said he prefers diplomacy, he’s also made it clear that failure to reach a deal could lead to conflict. Israel has reportedly made preparations for a potential strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure if negotiations collapse.
Iran, meanwhile, has yet to formally respond to the latest U.S. proposal and signaled growing resistance to further negotiations. A U.S. official said it’s increasingly doubtful that the sixth round of talks, originally planned for Sunday in Oman, will happen as scheduled. The Iranian mission to the United Nations issued a statement Wednesday insisting that the country is not pursuing nuclear weapons and that threats of “overwhelming force” won’t change the facts.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors is expected to vote Thursday on a resolution condemning Iran for failing to meet its nuclear obligations. Iran has warned it may escalate its nuclear program further in retaliation.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff is still scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat on Sunday, according to U.S. officials. In remarks delivered in New York, Witkoff said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and emphasized the urgency of stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “A nuclear Iran poses an existential threat to Israel and it is also an existential threat to the United States,” he said. “We must stand together resolutely so that Iran does not go nuclear no matter what the cost to prevent it.”
A State Department official confirmed that the decision to reduce staffing in Iraq followed the latest security assessments. Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly explained that the move reflects heightened concern for U.S. personnel abroad. At the same time, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the voluntary departure of military families from several U.S. bases in the region, citing elevated security risks. A Pentagon official stressed that the safety of service members and their families remains the highest priority, and that U.S. Central Command is closely monitoring the evolving situation.