US Evacuates Staff Amid Heightened Middle East Tensions
Amid rising tensions between the US and Iran over a stalled nuclear deal, the State Department initiated the evacuation of non-essential embassy staff from Baghdad. Simultaneously, the Pentagon authorized the departure of military dependents from the region, with personnel in Kuwait and Bahrain also on standby. President Trump cited the potential danger as the reason for the evacuations, reiterating his stance against Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. These actions follow a perceived impasse in negotiations and escalating threats from Iranian officials.