On June 11, US President Donald Trump said that some US personnel are being moved from the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place", and affirmed that the US will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.
Although sources familiar with the matter did not specify which security risks prompted President Trump to make the decision, the move sent oil prices up more than 4%.
The personnel about to be withdrawn from the Middle East are believed to be American staff at the US Embassy in Iraq. Relatives of the soldiers were also supported to evacuate from locations around the Middle East amid rising tensions.
In addition to Iraq, the US State Department also allows employees to voluntarily leave several other countries in the Middle East, including Bahrain and Kuwait.
On the same day, the department updated its global travel warning to reflect Washington's latest stance.
The warning said: "On June 11, the State Department ordered the evacuation of US government staff without emergency due to rising regional tensions."
The decision to evacuate some US personnel comes at a time of turmoil in the region, as Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran seem to be at a standstill.
US intelligence even pointed out that Israel was preparing for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Meanwhile, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh affirmed that if Iran is attacked, they will retaliate by attacking US bases in the region.
