The United States is preparing a partial evacuation of its embassy in Baghdad and has authorised voluntary departures for military dependents across parts of the Middle East due to escalating regional security risks, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials.
While no specific threat was disclosed, the decision comes amid rising fears of a broader conflict involving Iran, following months of unrest triggered by the ongoing war in Gaza. The announcement contributed to a spike in global oil prices, with Brent crude jumping over 4% to $69.18 per barrel.
“The State Department regularly reviews American personnel abroad, and this decision was made as a result of a recent review,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Reuters, declining to provide additional details. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, a White House official confirmed.
A U.S. official said the Baghdad evacuation would begin with commercial flights, though military assistance remains on standby. Similar voluntary departure authorisations were granted for U.S. personnel in Bahrain and Kuwait, while embassies in Qatar and Kuwait remain fully operational.
Tensions have been mounting in the region. Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned of retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases if Iran comes under attack. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed groups in Iraq have previously targeted American troops, though such incidents have declined since late last year.
Iran and the U.S. are expected to resume nuclear negotiations in the coming days after Tehran rejected Washington’s last proposal. The situation is further complicated by Israel’s strikes on Iran-aligned forces in Syria and Iraq.
In response to the potential evacuation, Britain’s maritime agency advised caution for ships passing through key regional waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz, citing a heightened risk of military activity.
General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, postponed congressional testimony to focus on developments in the region. He stated earlier that he had presented President Trump with “a wide range of options” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Iran’s U.N. mission pushed back on U.S. rhetoric, posting on X that Tehran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and that “U.S. militarism only fuels instability.”