US begins partial evacuation in Middle East as tensions with Iran rise

President Donald Trump confirmed on June 11 that some U.S. personnel are being relocated from the Middle East, warning the region “could be a dangerous place.”

He reiterated that the United States will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, saying, “Very simple, they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

Earlier that day, Reuters reported that the U.S. was preparing a partial evacuation of its embassy in Baghdad and authorising military dependents to leave several locations across the Middle East due to growing security concerns, according to four U.S. and two Iraqi sources. The specific threats prompting the decision were not disclosed, but the news drove oil prices up over 4%.

A defence official said the Pentagon authorised voluntary departures for military families in the region, primarily those in Bahrain. Another U.S. official confirmed that dependents were also permitted to leave Kuwait. The State Department updated its global travel advisory Wednesday evening, stating that non-emergency U.S. government staff were ordered to depart Iraq due to “heightened regional tensions.”

This shift comes as U.S. efforts to secure a nuclear deal with Iran appear stalled and Israeli preparations for a potential strike on Iran intensify, according to U.S. intelligence assessments. Trump, in comments to reporters, noted, “We’ve given notice to move out.” Asked if anything could ease the situation, he responded, “They can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned on June 11 that Tehran would retaliate against any strikes by targeting U.S. bases in the region. The U.S. military maintains forces in key oil-producing countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.

A third U.S. official said the Baghdad evacuation is expected to proceed via commercial flights, although the military stands ready to assist if needed. Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Kuwait announced no staffing changes and said it remains fully operational. At Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—the largest U.S. military base in the region—operations are reportedly continuing as normal, with no evacuation orders issued for embassy personnel or their families.

The rising threat level prompted Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations agency on June 11 to advise ships to exercise caution while transiting the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz. The UK Foreign Office said it was closely monitoring the situation and would review staffing at its embassy in Iraq accordingly.

Iraq, which maintains ties with both Washington and Tehran, has seen escalating tensions since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Iranian-backed armed groups in Iraq have launched repeated attacks on U.S. forces, although the frequency of such incidents declined in recent months. In 2024, Iran and Israel also exchanged direct fire twice, unprecedented incidents involving missiles and drones traversing Iraqi airspace. Israel has repeatedly struck Iranian-affiliated targets in Syria and Iraq.

In response to regional instability, the U.S. bolstered its military presence earlier this year, deploying B-2 bombers and extending the deployment of a second aircraft carrier—both of which have since left the region.

Nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are expected to resume within days. Tehran is preparing a counter-proposal after rejecting Washington’s most recent offer. President Trump has voiced growing scepticism about Iran's willingness to stop enriching uranium, which remains a central U.S. demand.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that military threats had consistently been used as a negotiation tool by Washington and warned, “Any military action against Iran, whether by the U.S. or Israel, will have serious consequences.”

Iran’s U.N. mission posted a statement on X asserting, “Threats of ‘overwhelming force’ won’t change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and U.S. militarism only fuels instability.” The message appeared to be a direct response to U.S. Central Command chief General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, who recently briefed President Trump on “a wide range of options” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Due to the unfolding crisis, Kurilla postponed his scheduled testimony before Congress on June 12, two officials said.

By Tamilla Hasanova