The United States has ordered the evacuation of non-essential staff and their dependants from its embassy in Baghdad, citing heightened security concerns, according to senior US officials. 

The decision comes amid growing fears of a potential Israeli military operation against Iran and the risk of Iranian retaliation on US interests in the region.

While the US government has not publicly detailed what triggered the move, officials told CBS News that Israel is believed to be preparing an imminent military operation inside Iran. The intelligence, reportedly shared with US authorities on Wednesday, raised alarm within Washington about possible Iranian retaliation, particularly against American sites in Iraq.

A spokesperson from the US State Department said “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.”

The developments come as negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme have stalled in recent days. Despite the rising tensions, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is still expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat on Sunday for a sixth round of nuclear talks, Axios reported.

Former US President Donald Trump, speaking at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Wednesday, confirmed Americans had been advised to leave the region. “It could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens,” he said. He reiterated that the United States would not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, expressing dwindling confidence that Tehran would cease its uranium enrichment.

The situation appears to have also strained US-Israeli relations. Earlier this week, Trump reportedly held a “tense” 40-minute phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a long-time advocate for a military approach over diplomacy in dealing with Iran.

Meanwhile, Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that the Islamic Republic would retaliate against US military bases across the Middle East if diplomatic efforts collapsed and Trump authorised strikes. In anticipation of such scenarios, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has also authorised the voluntary departure of American military families from countries including Kuwait and Bahrain, Reuters reported.

During testimony before Congress on Wednesday, Pentagon officials stated there were “plenty of indications” that Iran was progressing towards the development of a nuclear weapon – a charge Iran denies. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is solely for civilian energy production.

The United Kingdom also issued its own security advisory through the Royal Navy’s Maritime Trade Operations wing, cautioning that increased military tensions could affect commercial shipping in the Gulf. Following the US evacuation announcement, global oil prices surged by over 4% on fears of supply disruptions in the event of conflict.

Currently, approximately 2,500 American troops remain stationed in Iraq, underscoring the strategic vulnerability of US assets in the country should hostilities escalate.

Chioma Kalu 

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