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| US to partially evacuate embassy in Iraq as Iran tensions rise | US to partially evacuate embassy in Iraq as Iran tensions rise |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: Trump says US personnel "being moved out" of the Middle East | Watch: Trump says US personnel "being moved out" of the Middle East |
| Non-essential US embassy staff and their dependants in Baghdad are to be evacuated from Iraq due to heightened security risks, US government sources have said. | Non-essential US embassy staff and their dependants in Baghdad are to be evacuated from Iraq due to heightened security risks, US government sources have said. |
| Officials did not say exactly what prompted the removal, but have been told Israel was ready to launch an operation into Iran, the BBC's US partner CBS reported. | |
| This was part of the reason some Americans were advised to leave the region, officials said, adding that they anticipated Iran could retaliate on certain US sites in Iraq. | |
| It comes as US talks over Iran's nuclear programme appear to have stalled in recent days. | It comes as US talks over Iran's nuclear programme appear to have stalled in recent days. |
| US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is still planning on holding talks with Iran about its nuclear program on Sunday, officials told CBS. | |
| Witkoff will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat, Axios reported. | |
| A US state department official told the BBC: "We are constantly assessing the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies. | A US state department official told the BBC: "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." | "Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our mission in Iraq." |
| Trump spoke about Iran at an appearance at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, telling reporters Americans were advised to leave the region "because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens". | Trump spoke about Iran at an appearance at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, telling reporters Americans were advised to leave the region "because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens". |
| Trump also reiterated that the US did not want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon: "We're not going to allow that." | Trump also reiterated that the US did not want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon: "We're not going to allow that." |
| The president has hoped to strike a deal to stop Tehran developing a nuclear weapon. | The president has hoped to strike a deal to stop Tehran developing a nuclear weapon. |
| Trump said on Wednesday he was growing less confident that Iran would stop enriching uranium. | Trump said on Wednesday he was growing less confident that Iran would stop enriching uranium. |
| Earlier this week, he held a 40-minute phone call, which was said to be "tense", with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long argued for a military rather than diplomatic approach. | |
| US Black Hawk helicopters flying over Baghdad in December 2024 | US Black Hawk helicopters flying over Baghdad in December 2024 |
| With the nuclear talks at a critical moment, it is not yet clear how much the US announcement is about signalling as opposed to genuine concern. | |
| But Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said his country would retaliate against US bases in the region if talks failed and Trump ordered military strikes against the Islamic Republic. | But Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said his country would retaliate against US bases in the region if talks failed and Trump ordered military strikes against the Islamic Republic. |
| US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also approved the voluntary departure of families of American military personnel from countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait and Bahrain, Reuters news agency reported. | US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also approved the voluntary departure of families of American military personnel from countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait and Bahrain, Reuters news agency reported. |
| Testifying in front of a congressional panel on Wednesday, the Pentagon said he believed there were "plenty of indications" that Iran was "moving their way towards something that would look a lot like a nuclear weapon". | Testifying in front of a congressional panel on Wednesday, the Pentagon said he believed there were "plenty of indications" that Iran was "moving their way towards something that would look a lot like a nuclear weapon". |
| Iran says its uranium enrichment programme was for civilian energy generation and that it was not trying to build an atomic bomb. | |
| The UK's Maritime Trade Operations organisation - part of the Royal Navy - warned on Wednesday that increased military tensions in the Middle East could affect shipping. | |
| The price of oil initially increased more than 4% when news of the US evacuation broke, in anticipation of regional insecurity potentially leading to supply problems. | The price of oil initially increased more than 4% when news of the US evacuation broke, in anticipation of regional insecurity potentially leading to supply problems. |
| Around 2,500 US troops are based in Iraq, according to the defence department. | Around 2,500 US troops are based in Iraq, according to the defence department. |