UK issues rare warning as US prepares Mideast embassy evacuations amid Iran tensions
UK issues rare warning as US prepares Mideast embassy evacuations amid Iran tensions
UK warns of rising military threats in Gulf waters as US authorizes evacuation of embassy staff in Iraq, Bahrain and Kuwait amid fears of imminent escalation with Iran
Reuters|11:21Add a comment
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Regional tensions surged Wednesday amid signs that nuclear negotiations with Iran may be nearing their conclusion, raising fears of a potential military confrontation and prompting a wave of security alerts and diplomatic movements.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime security agency, issued an unusual advisory Wednesday, warning commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz to exercise heightened caution due to what it called “increased tensions in the Middle East” that could escalate military activity and directly impact maritime security.
The UKMTO maritime advisory did not specify the immediate cause of its warning, but it comes against a backdrop of escalating threats from Israel and the U.S. about possible strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Later in the day, Reuters reported that the United States was preparing to evacuate some embassy personnel from Iraq in response to growing security threats. The U.S. State Department confirmed it had authorized the departure of non-essential staff from its embassies in Bahrain and Kuwait.
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Shortly after, both Reuters and AP reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had approved the temporary evacuation of military personnel family members stationed in parts of the region. President Donald Trump was “aware of the move of U.S. personnel in the Middle East,” a White House official told Reuters.
Trump followed with a post on Truth Social, declaring, “I am more confident than ever that in the days ahead and every generation to come, the U.S. Army will heap glory upon glory. You will summon inexhaustible courage. You will protect every inch of U.S. soil—and you will defend America to the ends of the earth!”
Adding to concerns, Reuters revealed late Wednesday that CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Kurilla had postponed his scheduled testimony before Congress due to the unfolding situation in the Middle East. In the wake of these developments, global oil prices jumped by roughly 5%.
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The precautionary U.S. moves followed renewed threats from Tehran. Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that if diplomacy fails and conflict is “forced” upon Iran, the country would strike U.S. bases in the region. “The losses of the enemy would outweigh ours,” he said. “In the event of confrontation, America must leave the region, as all its bases are within our reach—we will not hesitate to target them.” Nasirzadeh also claimed Iran had recently tested a missile with a two-ton warhead.
A U.S. official said the State Department would instruct Baghdad embassy staff to leave via commercial flights but noted the U.S. military is ready to assist if needed. An Iraqi Foreign Ministry source confirmed a “partial evacuation” of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad due to “regional security concerns.”
