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By Gabe Whisnant and Sonam Sheth
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The United States Embassy in Baghdad is preparing for an ordered evacuation amid rising security threats in the region, an Iraqi security official and a U.S. source told Reuters on Wednesday.
The Associated Press reported that the order is limited to nonessential personnel at the embassy. The U.S. military has also authorized the "voluntary departure" of troops' dependents from locations across the Middle East.
The Context
Tensions in the region have escalated in recent days, as talks between the U.S. and Iran have reached an impasse.
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The State Department's decision to order the evacuation of all nonessential staff from the embassy in Iraq comes after Iranian Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that Tehran would target U.S. bases in the area if hostilities spike or nuclear negotiations with Washington break down.
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What To Know
Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear ambitions are focused on peaceful purposes like energy production. But Nasirzadeh said on Wednesday that "if a conflict is imposed on us...all [U.S.] bases are within our reach."
The Baghdad embassy has already been on limited staffing, and the order will not affect a large number of personnel, according to the AP. The State Department is also authorizing the departure of nonessential personnel and their family members from Bahrain and Kuwait, giving them the option to leave the country.
The Pentagon is standing by to support a potential evacuation of U.S. personnel from the embassy in Baghdad, a U.S. official told the AP.
President Donald Trump has said in recent days that he's less and less certain about the U.S. and Iran reaching a formal nuclear agreement. Trump was asked during an interview on the New York Post's Pod Force One podcast if he believes Iran will agree to end its uranium enrichment.
"I did think so and I'm getting more and more—less confident about it," he said.
On the negotiations, the president said: "Something happened to them...I am much less confident of a deal being made."
Trump reiterated that the U.S. will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon under any circumstances but said it would be "nicer" to avoid a full-blown war.
That said, the Pentagon is preparing for all possible scenarios. General Michael Kurilla, the outgoing head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), told lawmakers on Tuesday that strike plans have been submitted to the White House if nuclear talks break down.
What People Are Saying
Iran's mission to the United Nations posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Threats of 'overwhelming force' won't change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and U.S. militarism only fuels instability. CENTCOM's legacy of fueling regional instability, through arming aggressors and enabling Israeli crimes, strips it of any credibility to speak on peace or non-proliferation. Diplomacy—not militarism—is the only path forward."
Iranian Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh told reporters on Wednesday: "If conflict is imposed on us, the opponent's casualties will certainly be more than ours, and in that case, America must leave the region, because all its bases are within our reach. We have access to them, and we will target all of them in the host countries without hesitation."
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, a Mideast effort overseen by the British navy, issued a warning to ships in the region on Wednesday: "UKMTO has been made aware of increased tensions within the region, which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners."
The statement did not mention Iran but advised ships to avoid the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.
What Happens Next
The U.S.'s talks with Iran are scheduled to resume this week; Trump has said they could start on Thursday, while Iran has suggested they'll resume on Sunday in Oman.
Update 6/11/25, 2:55 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 6/11/25, 3:29 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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