US Pulls Embassy Staff from Iraq Over Iran Tension Fears

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Photo: Reuters

The United States government has decided to remove non-essential staff and their families from its embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. This is because there are high security risks in the area right now.

Officials did not say exactly what caused the decision. But US news channel CBS said that Israel might be getting ready to carry out a military operation against Iran. This news is one reason why Americans are being told to leave the region. Officials think that if Israel attacks, Iran could strike back at US places in Iraq.

The US government is also limiting where its workers can go inside Israel. Right now, they can only travel in and around Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva.

At the same time, talks between the US and Iran about Iran’s nuclear program are not going well. The discussions seem to have stopped recently.

Still, the US is planning to talk to Iran again soon. The US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to meet Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

A US official told the BBC that they are always checking the safety of their staff around the world. Because of new risks in Iraq, they decided to have fewer people at the embassy.

US President Donald Trump spoke about the issue in Washington, DC. He said Americans were told to leave the area because it might become dangerous. He also said that the US does not want Iran to make nuclear weapons and that he will not allow it.

President Trump has been trying to make a deal with Iran to stop them from creating nuclear weapons. Earlier this week, he had a phone call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reports say the call was serious and a bit tense. Netanyahu believes a military strike is better than peaceful talks.

On Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met in Vienna to discuss Iran’s nuclear activities. The IAEA recently released a report saying Iran is not giving enough answers about nuclear material found at secret locations.

Iran said the report was unfair and that it was based on fake documents given by Israel.

Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that if talks fail and the US attacks Iran, then Iran will strike back at American bases in the Middle East.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has also allowed families of US soldiers in countries like Kuwait and Bahrain to leave the region if they want.

During a talk in front of US lawmakers, the Pentagon said there are many signs that Iran is getting close to building a nuclear weapon. But Iran says their program is only for making electricity and not for bombs.

The UK’s Maritime Trade group, which is part of the Royal Navy, said military tensions in the Middle East could also affect sea trade and ships.

When the news of the US evacuation came out, oil prices went up by more than 4% because people are worried that fighting in the region could affect the oil supply.

Right now, about 2,500 US soldiers are stationed in Iraq. In January 2020, Iran shot missiles at US bases in Iraq to take revenge after a US attack killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. No US soldiers died in that attack, but many were later found to have brain injuries.

This is a tense moment in the region, and many people are watching closely to see what happens next.