Washington DC [US], June 12 (HBTV): The US State and Defence Departments have initiated the withdrawal of non-essential personnel from multiple locations across West Asia amid rising regional tensions, CNN reported, citing US officials and sources familiar with the matter.

While the precise trigger for the move remains unclear, a defence official told CNN that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) is monitoring ‘developing tension in the Middle East’. President Donald Trump commented on the evolving situation, stating, ‘They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place... we've given notice to move out, and we'll see what happens.’

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has authorised the voluntary departure of military dependents from several regional locations. ‘The safety and security of our service members and their families remains our highest priority,’ an official said.

CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla has postponed a scheduled Senate testimony in light of the situation, according to a defence official.

The State Department, in coordination with the Pentagon, is also preparing to order the departure of non-essential personnel from US embassies in Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait, as well as from the consulate in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, CNN reported. However, a local Iraqi official claimed the moves were unrelated to the security environment in Iraq.

A State Department spokesperson stated, ‘President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad... Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce the footprint of our Mission in Iraq.’ The department has updated its travel advisory, citing ‘heightened regional tensions’ as the reason for the ordered departure.

CNN further reported that President Trump has expressed diminishing confidence in reaching a new nuclear agreement with Iran. In a podcast interview with the New York Post, Trump said Tehran may be ‘delaying’ the deal: ‘I'm getting more and more less confident about it... Something happened to them.’ He added that his instincts suggested the deal was becoming increasingly unlikely.

In a related development, sources told CNN that Trump had a phone call on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he urged him to stop discussing a possible strike on Iran. Trump described the call as ‘very well, very smooth.’

Last month, CNN reported that the US had gathered intelligence suggesting Israel was preparing for a possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. US officials observed signs of Israeli military posturing, including the movement of air munitions and completion of a significant air exercise, though no final decision had been confirmed by Israeli leadership.

Amid these developments, Iran’s Defence Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh issued a warning. According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, he stated that if nuclear talks collapse and conflict erupts, the US would be ‘forced to leave the region’, asserting that all US bases are within reach of Iranian forces.

‘The adversary will certainly suffer heavier casualties,’ Nasirzadeh said, though he did not clarify whether he was referring specifically to the US, Israel, or both.

(ANI)