The US Embassy in Iraq is preparing for an ordered evacuation due to increased security threats in the region, NOVA reported, citing an Iraqi security official and an American source.
As for another Middle Eastern country - Bahrain, the US military is expected to allow families of service members stationed there to temporarily leave the country due to increased tensions in the region.
Iraq allows 9-year-old girls to marry
According to "Associated Press" The US State Department is set to order the families of US embassy staff in Bahrain and Kuwait, as well as non-essential diplomatic personnel, to leave those countries.
Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said today, in connection with negotiations with the United States on Iran's nuclear program, that "some representatives of the other side are threatening conflict if the negotiations are not successful".
"If conflict is imposed on us, all US bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in the relevant countries," Nasirzadeh said.
A senior US general commanding US troops in the Middle East has postponed its scheduled Senate hearing today due to tensions in the region, two senior US officials said, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
General Michael “Eric“ Kurila, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), was due to testify before the Senate Defense Committee today.
CENTCOM has not yet responded to Reuters' requests for comment on the matter.