US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States has begun a partial withdrawal of its personnel from the Middle East, citing growing security risks in the region.
Middle East “can be a dangerous place”
The statement, made on June 11 in Washington, is linked to uncertainty surrounding negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and fears of a possible Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Amid escalating tensions and bellicose rhetoric from Tehran threatening to attack American bases, Trump’s decision underscores a desire to minimise risks to US citizens but raises questions about Washington’s broader strategy in the region.
Speaking to reporters, Trump acknowledged that the Middle East “can be a dangerous place” and said he had ordered the withdrawal of some personnel.
“We’ll see what happens next,” he added, without specifying the scale of the evacuation.
Which bases will be evacuated
According to Reuters, the reduction affected the US embassy in Baghdad, as well as facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, where key military bases are located, including the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet. The Washington Post specifies that the evacuation concerns non-essential personnel and families of employees, while military bases have been placed on full alert. These measures, according to CNN, are prompted by intelligence reports of possible attacks by Iran or its allies, such as pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
Trump also emphasised that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simple. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to allow that,” he said, reiterating his administration’s tough stance.
At the same time, the UK warned all ships in the Persian Gulf to be on high alert. These alarms caused global oil prices to jump by more than 4%.
Israeli threats
In May, CNN reported on Israel’s readiness to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Tehran promised to strike back at secret Israeli nuclear facilities. Israel neither confirms nor denies that it possesses nuclear weapons.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at reviving the nuclear deal (JCPOA) have stalled after five rounds that began in April 2025. According to Bloomberg, the sixth round, scheduled for the coming days, is in jeopardy due to Iran’s refusal to discuss restrictions on its missile programme. The New York Times notes that Tehran has increased uranium enrichment to 84%, close to weapons-grade levels, raising alarm among the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the US.
Tehran’s response
Iran, in turn, has stepped up its bellicose rhetoric. Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, speaking on June 10, warned that if attacked, Tehran would strike all US bases in the region, including facilities in Qatar and the UAE. He referred to the recent test of the Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile with a two-ton warhead, emphasising Iran’s readiness to retaliate.
Tehran is also strengthening its position through proxy groups such as Hezbollah and is in talks with Russia about the supply of S-400 air defence systems, which is heightening tensions.
On June 11, Iran accused the IAEA of passing secret data related to Tehran’s nuclear dossier to Israel. According to Fars News and Iran Press, the IAEA allegedly disclosed to Israel the names of Iranian nuclear physicists who were subsequently killed. The Iranian Foreign Ministry promised to take “decisive diplomatic steps” in response to these alleged violations.
On June 8, Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib stated on state television that his agency had seized a secret Israeli archive containing “thousands of pages” of documents. According to Khatib, the archive includes strategic, operational and scientific information about Israel’s nuclear programme, as well as data on the country’s cooperation with the United States, European states and other partners.
The Iranian side promised to publish these materials soon. The next day, Tehran threatened to strike Israel’s secret nuclear facilities in the event of an act of aggression against Iran. This statement was made by the Supreme National Security Council.
