The majority of diplomats in the U.S. embassies in Baghdad and Erbil are being evacuated due to unidentified security concerns, as reported by one former and two current U.S. officials.
The rationale behind the order to withdraw was not immediately apparent, but it follows a warning by Iran’s defense minister that American outposts in the area will be attacked if nuclear talks between Iran and the West fail. Everyone in Iraq who isn’t absolutely necessary has to comply with the directive.
The safety of Americans, both domestically and abroad, is a top priority for President Trump. As part of that dedication, we are always looking at the best way to staff our embassies. In an email message, the State Department announced their decision to shrink the footprint of their operation in Iraq, citing their newest research.
A defense official has confirmed that U.S. military dependents have been given the green light to voluntarily leave the Middle East by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The guy and the two other U.S. officials were given the green light to remain anonymous as they lacked the authority to discuss policymaking. In order to talk openly about sensitive material, the former official was granted anonymity.
This weekend, Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of President Trump, will reportedly meet with Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran, for the sixth round of nuclear negotiations. In an interview that was released on Wednesday, Trump expressed less confidence in a nuclear agreement, despite his frequent statements that he prefers negotiation over military action.
When asked if Iran would agree to an agreement to end its nuclear program, Trump said, “I don’t know,” during an appearance on the “Pod Force One” podcast. I am uncertain. Yeah, I was thinking that, and I’m starting to feel less and less sure about it.
Additionally, Trump has been under pressure from Israel to authorize an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but he has refrained from doing so thus far in an effort to allow the discussions to produce results. Iran has stated it will not consent to anything that would prohibit its nuclear program, while Trump has stated his desire for a deal that would bar Iran from enriching uranium domestically.
The evacuation order for Iraqi diplomats was earlier covered by Reuters.
Soldiers will stay at bases, according to the defense official, but “authorized eligible family members” will be able to take advantage of government-funded travel. Due to “heightened threats in the region,” the source explained, this was a preventive step.
A large portion of the approximately 2,500 American soldiers stationed in Iraq are located at the expansive Al-Assad air base, which has been targeted by Iranian-backed militias in the past with rocket assaults. Five American service troops and two civilian contractors were wounded in a ballistic missile strike on the site in August. For years, Iran has attacked the facility, wounding scores of American servicemen.
As a middle ground between American and Iranian demands over Tehran’s enrichment, Witkoff proposed a regional enrichment consortium earlier this month and forwarded it to Iran. No official response has come from Tehran.
When it comes to dealing with Iran, Trump is under intense pressure from both isolationists and hawks within his party. There are two schools of thought on Iran’s nuclear program: the hawks want a stronger response from the United States, including endorsing or taking part in a strike on Tehran’s nuclear facilities, and the moderates worry that this may lead to the type of conflict the president promised to avoid in the Middle East.