US government orders evacuation of embassy staff in Iraq

Alsharq Tribune- Amira Younes 

The US government has ordered the evacuation of some of its embassy officials in Iraq due to heightened security risks in the region. A US travel advisory updated on June 11 says the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel due to heightened regional tensions.

Reuters news agency reported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday, "They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens." He said, "We've given notice to move out."

The US has been holding talks with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. But Trump said in an interview released on Wednesday that he was growing less confident that Tehran would agree to stop enriching uranium.

Trump has hinted at a possible attack on Iran if there is no progress in the talks. It has also been reported that Israel is planning to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran has vowed to retaliate in the event of an attack.

Following reports of the embassy staff evacuation, the benchmark WTI crude oil futures rose to the mid 68-dollar level at one time in New York on Wednesday, for the first time since early April.

Iran's UN mission said in a social media post on Wednesday, "Threats of 'overwhelming force' won't change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and US militarism only fuels instability." It added, "Diplomacy -- not militarism -- is the only path forward."