Washington (TDI): President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that some American personnel are being repositioned from the Middle East, citing increased regional instability.
“It could be a dangerous place,” he remarked, emphasizing once again that Washington remains firm in its resolve to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
While neither American nor Iraqi officials disclosed the exact nature of the threats prompting the decision, reports of the possible evacuation led to a spike in global oil prices, which surged over 4% on Wednesday.
A US official said that the State Department had approved voluntary exits for staff and dependents in certain Gulf nations, according to Reuters.
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The department also updated its global travel advisory to reflect the latest developments, stating: “On June 11, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel due to heightened regional tensions.”
The timing of the move is critical. Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran regarding Iran’s nuclear program appear to be stalled, with little progress in recent weeks. Intelligence assessments reportedly indicate that Israel is weighing a potential strike on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, further raising the stakes.
“They’re being relocated because of the risks. We’ll have to see how things unfold,” Trump said when pressed on the decision.
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He reiterated that the US would take all necessary steps to stop Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal. “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simple,” he said.
The United States has a military presence in many countries in the region, with bases in Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved the voluntary departure of military dependents from areas across the region, a US official reported.
