Diplomats and military families are being withdrawn from Middle Eastern locations due to heightened tension between the U.S. and Iran.
Revised Article:
Tensions have been flaring up in the Middle East, leading the US State and Defense departments to take precautions. They're shifting non-essential personnel out of various locations due to potential danger and developing conflicts, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Donald Trump, the President, casually mentioned the relocation to reporters, stating, "We're moving them out because it could be a messy place, and we'll see what happens." It's unclear what exactly is causing this shift in posture. However, a defense official revealed that US Central Command is keeping an eye on the simmering tension in the Middle East.
Reports indicate heightened security concerns, with the planned departures occurring amidst the escalating tension between Iran and Israel. As the Trump administration continues to pursue a new nuclear deal with Iran, these tensions have risen significantly.
Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents across the Middle East. According to an official, "Every service member's and their family's safety and security remains our top priority." Despite this, General Michael Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, postponed his scheduled Senate committee testimony due to the rising tensions.
The State Department is also preparing to evacuate non-essential personnel from US embassies in Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the US consulate in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. Although an Iraqi government official claimed these movements weren't connected to their country's security situation, a State Department official maintained that the move is part of an ongoing commitment to keeping Americans safe.
The department also updated its travel advisory, stating that the departure of non-emergency US government personnel “due to heightened regional tensions” had been ordered. Trump acknowledged that he's growing less hopeful about reaching a deal with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions. "I'm less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago," he declared.
CNN reported that Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt talks of an attack on Iran during a phone call. The two leaders spoke on Monday, with Trump later describing the conversation as "very smooth." Last month, CNN also highlighted new intelligence suggesting that Israel was preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. However, officials emphasized that it's unclear if Israeli leaders have made a final decision on this matter.
Iran's defense minister warned that the U.S. would be "forced to leave the region" if nuclear talks fail and conflict ensues. He didn't specify if this referred to the U.S., Israel, or both. If conflict breaks out, Iran's military will undoubtedly aim to inflict heavy casualties on the "adversary," as per the defense minister's comments.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.
CNN's Kevin Liptak, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Samantha Waldenberg, Eugenia Yosef, and Oren Liebermann contributed reporting.
Enrichment Data: The current situation in the Middle East is marked by escalating tensions between the U.S., Iran, and Israel, with fears of potential military conflict. These tensions are largely driven by disagreements over the Iranian nuclear program, particularly the country's right to pursue a civilian enrichment program[2][3][1].
Political tensions in the Middle East are escalating due to the potential war-and-conflicts with Iran and Israel, as highlighted in general-news reports. The US State and Defense departments are implementing policy-and-legislation to address these conflicts, including shifting non-essential personnel and updating travel advisories.
