US Starts evacuation of Embassy staff in Iraq over security concerns

The United States has begun evacuating non-essential staff and family members from its embassy in Baghdad due to rising security threats, according to government sources.

The decision follows growing tension in the region and concerns over the future of talks with Iran on its nuclear programme.

A US state department official told the BBC, “We are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies. Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our mission in Iraq.”

Although officials did not give specific reasons for the evacuation, the move comes amid a deadlock in negotiations with Iran over its uranium enrichment activities.

The US wants Iran to halt the process, which can be used to develop a nuclear bomb, in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.

Speaking on a podcast, US President Donald Trump said he was growing less confident that an agreement with Iran could be reached.

Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that if talks failed and Trump ordered military strikes, “Iran would retaliate against US bases in the region.”

At the same time, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the voluntary departure of families of American military personnel from several countries in the Middle East, including Kuwait and Bahrain.

“There are plenty of indications that Iran is moving their way towards something that would look a lot like a nuclear weapon,” Hegseth told a congressional panel on Wednesday.

Iran has maintained that its uranium enrichment is solely for civilian energy needs and denies any intention to build a nuclear weapon.

Tensions in the region have also triggered warnings from other quarters. The UK's Maritime Trade Operations, part of the Royal Navy, issued an alert that growing military tensions in the Middle East could affect shipping routes.

The news of the embassy evacuation caused oil prices to rise more than 4%, as markets reacted to fears of regional instability affecting supply chains. The US currently has about 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq, according to the defence department.