Washington, D.C. [US], June 12 (ANI): The United States has begun withdrawing non-essential diplomatic personnel and military families from key locations across West Asia, in response to escalating tensions with Iran, CNN reported, citing U.S. officials and defense sources.
The State Department and the Department of Defense are acting in coordination to reduce the American footprint in embassies and military installations in the region, including Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. The shift comes as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) monitors what it describes as “developing tension in the Middle East.”
President Donald Trump addressed the move, 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 authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents stationed across the region, reaffirming that the safety of U.S. service members and their families is paramount. Meanwhile, CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla has postponed a scheduled testimony before the Senate due to the rapidly evolving situation.
A State Department spokesperson reiterated the U.S. commitment to safeguarding American citizens, stating: “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 State Department also updated its travel advisory, citing “heightened regional tensions” as the justification for the move. However, a local Iraqi official claimed that the U.S. movements were not directly linked to the security environment in Iraq.
Amid these developments, President Trump expressed growing skepticism over the chances of reviving the stalled U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. Speaking on a New York Post podcast, Trump said: “I’m getting more and more less confident about it… Something happened to them,” suggesting Tehran may be intentionally delaying negotiations.
In a related diplomatic twist, CNN reported that Trump had a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, during which he urged Israel to stop openly discussing a potential strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump characterized the call as “very well, very smooth.”
This follows recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicating that Israel may be preparing for a military strike on Iran, including the repositioning of air munitions and completion of large-scale air exercises. However, no final decision from Israeli leadership has been confirmed.
On the other side, Iran’s Defence Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, in comments reported by the state-run IRNA news agency, issued a stern warning to the U.S. and Israel. He asserted that all U.S. bases in the region are within Iran’s missile range, and any outbreak of hostilities would result in “heavier casualties” for the adversary. “The U.S. would be forced to leave the region,” he added, without specifying whether the threat applied to both U.S. and Israeli forces.
As diplomatic uncertainty grows and military tensions rise, the situation in West Asia remains volatile, with significant implications for regional and global stability. (ANI)
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