The US State Department has issued an official warning to its citizens in North Africa and the Middle East.
“Due to escalating regional tensions, the State Department recommends that US citizens in the Middle East and North Africa exercise increased caution,” reads a statement from the State Department posted on social media platform X.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that an Israeli strike on Iran is not imminent but could very well occur. US authorities have already begun a partial evacuation of non-essential personnel.
“The State Department is preparing to order the withdrawal of all non-essential personnel from the US Embassy in Baghdad due to potential unrest in the region,” sources report. It is noted that similar measures will apply to embassy staff in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Tensions in the region are rising against the backdrop of stalled negotiations between the US and Iran.
“According to US and European officials, Israel is preparing to strike Iran in the near future, reports *The New York Times*. This move could further inflame the situation in the Middle East and derail or delay the efforts of the Trump administration to reach a deal aimed at cutting off Iran’s path to a nuclear bomb.”
The Pentagon has also authorized family members of US military personnel stationed in the Middle East to voluntarily leave the region. Washington fears that Tehran’s response to potential Israeli attacks could target US assets.
Official representatives from the US, European countries, and Israel have refrained from publicly commenting on these reports. However, operational measures to evacuate diplomats underscore the seriousness of the situation. As Associated Press notes, negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program are effectively deadlocked, creating conditions for further escalation.
