The United States Department of State and the military stated on Wednesday (June 11) that due to potential unrest in the Middle East, the U.S. government is in the process of evacuating non-essential personnel from the region. According to the latest assessment and the commitment to “ensure the safety of Americans at home and abroad,” the State Department has ordered all non-essential personnel to evacuate from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. The embassy had previously implemented personnel restrictions, so this order will not affect a large number of staff.
However, the State Department has also authorized the evacuation of non-essential personnel and government dependents from Bahrain and Kuwait. However, they can choose whether to leave these countries on their own.
The U.S. Central Command stated in a release that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also “authorized the voluntary departure of military families from various locations in the region.” The command “is closely monitoring the escalating tensions in the Middle East.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly confirmed these measures. “The State Department regularly assesses U.S. personnel overseas, and this decision was made based on the results of the most recent assessment,” Kelly said.
In recent days, tensions in the Middle East have escalated as negotiations between the United States and Iran regarding the Iranian nuclear program appear to have reached a stalemate. The talks aim to limit the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for the U.S. lifting some of its harsh economic sanctions on Iran.
President Trump had previously warned that if the negotiations fail, he would use force to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He stated this week that he is now less optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran than he was a few months ago. In an interview with the “Pod Force One” podcast of the New York Post on Monday, he expressed increasingly low confidence in reaching an agreement.
Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh told reporters on Wednesday that he hopes for successful negotiations with the United States but is also prepared for conflict, including targeting all U.S. bases in the Middle East.
At the same time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors may vote on a resolution condemning Iran, which could lead to the United Nations reinstating sanctions against Iran.
Earlier on Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, supervised by the British Navy and covering the Middle East region, issued a statement on its website urging vessels passing through the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz to exercise caution. While not mentioning Iran specifically, Iran has detained vessels and conducted attacks in these waters in the past.
(Source: The Associated Press)