US pulls staff from Middle East as fears of 'Israeli' strike on Iran rise

The United States has begun scaling back its diplomatic and military presence in parts of the Middle East amid growing concerns that 'Israel' may be preparing to launch a strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. 

The State Department has authorized the departure of some embassy staff in Iraq, while the Pentagon approved the voluntary evacuation of military families stationed at US bases across the region. The precautionary steps are being taken as intelligence officials warn that 'Israel' could move forward with a unilateral strike, one that would not only undermine months of US-led diplomatic efforts, but could also trigger retaliatory attacks against American assets in the region.

President Donald Trump, who had previously expressed optimism about reaching a deal with Tehran, appeared far less certain this week. “I’m less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago. Something happened to them, but I am much less confident of a deal being made,” he told the New York Post.

The US government has instructed embassies within the potential range of Iranian reprisals, including those in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North Africa, to activate emergency planning teams and report risk mitigation strategies back to Washington. This led Secretary of State Marco Rubio to green-light a partial drawdown of staff in Iraq.

“We are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies,” said a State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our mission in Iraq.”

In parallel, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized military families to voluntarily depart from US bases across the region. A defense official confirmed that US Central Command is working closely with the State Department and regional allies to ensure readiness for any contingency.

Speaking Wednesday at an event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Trump addressed the rising tensions and acknowledged the relocations, “It could be a dangerous place. ... We’ve given notice to move out; we’ll see what happens.”

Diplomatic sources in the region are increasingly alarmed. “We are watching and worried,” one senior diplomat said. “We think it’s more serious than any other time in the past.”

Iran, meanwhile, continues to insist that diplomacy is the only viable path forward. In a statement posted online, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said, “Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and US 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.”

While a sixth round of direct nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran was tentatively scheduled for Sunday in Oman, officials familiar with the planning now say it is uncertain whether the talks will proceed. The discussions were expected to bring together US negotiator Steve Witkoff, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and technical teams from both sides.

Trump has previously said he urged 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay any military action in favor of pursuing a diplomatic resolution. But on Wednesday, he acknowledged a growing sense of pessimism. “They seem to be delaying, and I think that’s a shame,” he said, reiterating his position that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and hinting at possible military intervention if diplomacy fails.

In a post on X, Araghchi suggested there may still be common ground. Trump’s stance that Iran should not develop a nuclear weapon “is actually in line with our own doctrine and could become the main foundation for a deal,” he wrote. “It is clear that an agreement that can ensure the continued peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program is within reach , and could be achieved rapidly.”

However, prospects for compromise have narrowed. While Witkoff initially signaled openness to allowing Iran limited low-enriched uranium production for civilian use, the administration has since hardened its position.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Director General Rafael Grossi disclosed that Iran has significantly expanded its stockpile of material near weapons-grade levels. The agency also reiterated that Iran has failed to fully explain undeclared nuclear activity at three sites, a lingering issue that has long raised suspicions about Tehran’s intentions.

Under the 2015 nuclear accord, brokered during the Obama administration, Iran had agreed to limit uranium enrichment to levels suitable for peaceful purposes in exchange for sanction relief. That deal began to unravel after Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed strict sanctions. Since then, Iran has resumed stockpiling highly enriched uranium, with the IAEA estimating its current holdings at around 900 pounds, dangerously close to weapons-grade.

European parties to the deal, France, Britain, and Germany, have also grown increasingly frustrated and have threatened to reimpose their own sanctions using the agreement’s “snapback” mechanism. At the IAEA meeting, Iran’s envoy Reza Najafi accused European states of failing to fulfill their original commitments, particularly in lifting sanctions.

Araghchi responded online, writing that “instead of displaying remorse or a desire to facilitate diplomacy,” European governments were “promoting confrontation through the absurd demand that Iran must be punished for exercising its right” to respond to their noncompliance.

With the IAEA board potentially voting on a resolution against Iran by Friday, Tehran has warned of consequences. “Iran will react STRONGLY. Blame will lie solely and FULLY with malign actors who shatter their own relevance,” Araghchi posted.