Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HOUSTON, June 12 (Xinhua) — Nonessential personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and their families have been ordered to leave Iraq due to unspecified security risks, U.S. State Department sources said Wednesday.
“Based on our most recent review, we have decided to reduce our mission’s presence in Iraq,” the State Department said in a statement. “We continually evaluate the necessary personnel levels at all of our embassies.”
Also on Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave permission for the voluntary departure of family members of American service members from facilities in the Middle East.
The security risks that led to the order to leave Iraq are not yet clear. Iran has recently threatened to attack US bases in the region if talks on Iran’s nuclear program fail, according to media reports.
US President Donald Trump said in a podcast on Wednesday that he is becoming less and less confident about the possibility of a nuclear deal with Iran.
Later Wednesday, when asked why American military families were allowed to leave the Middle East, Trump said: “You’ll see.”
US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff is expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi this weekend for a sixth round of nuclear talks. –0–