The United States has begun withdrawing non-essential diplomats and military families from several locations across West Asia in response to rising tensions with Iran, CNN reported, citing US officials and informed sources.
According to a US defence official, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) is closely monitoring the situation, describing it as “developing tension in the Middle East.” President Donald Trump confirmed the decision to relocate personnel, stating, “They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place… we’ve given notice to move out, and we’ll see what happens.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has authorised the voluntary departure of military dependents from regional US military bases. “The safety and security of our service members and their families remains our highest priority,” a Pentagon official said.
CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla postponed his testimony before a Senate committee to focus on the evolving regional crisis. Meanwhile, the US State Department, in coordination with the Pentagon, is also preparing to pull non-essential staff from US embassies in Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait, along with the consulate in Erbil, according to the report.
Despite the pullback, a local Iraqi official claimed the decision was not directly linked to Iraq’s security environment.
In an official statement, a State Department spokesperson said, “President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad… Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our Mission in Iraq.” The department also updated its travel advisory, citing “heightened regional tensions.”
Adding to the uncertainty, Trump expressed growing pessimism about the outcome of the US-Iran nuclear negotiations. Speaking to the New York Post podcast, he said, “I’m getting more and more less confident about it… Something happened to them,” suggesting Tehran may be intentionally stalling the talks.
Sources also revealed that Trump recently urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call to stop publicly discussing a possible military strike on Iran. Trump described the conversation as “very well, very smooth.”
CNN had earlier reported signs that Israel might be preparing for a potential strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, citing intelligence about military movements and recent air exercises, though no final decision had been made by Israeli leadership.
Amid these developments, Iran’s Defence Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned of consequences if nuclear talks collapse. As quoted by Iran’s state media IRNA, he said that all US bases in the region are within range and that, in the event of conflict, “the adversary will certainly suffer heavier casualties.”
