The United States is pulling nonessential personnel from its embassy in Baghdad and allowing military families to leave several bases in the Gulf region, according to US officials from the State Department and the Pentagon.

The moves come just days before a deadline for nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran and amid growing threats from Tehran, reports Axios.

A State Department official said that based on a recent security analysis, “a decision was made to reduce the footprint of our Mission in Iraq.”

On Wednesday, the UK maritime trade operations office warned of “increased tensions” in the region that “could lead to an escalation of military activity.”

Ships traveling through the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Strait of Hormuz were advised to be on alert and report any suspicious activity.

That same day, the US Embassy in Baghdad began preparations to evacuate nonessential staff. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth authorized the “voluntary departure” of military families from multiple US bases across the Middle East.

A Pentagon official said, “The safety and security of our service members and their families remains our highest priority and US Central Command (CENTCOM) is monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East.”

A White House official confirmed that President Trump “is aware” of the security-driven evacuations. Three days earlier, Trump met with top national security aides at Camp David to review the Iran situation.

A US official said it’s now unlikely that the sixth round of nuclear negotiations with Iran will take place in Oman as originally scheduled. Iran has not yet responded to the US proposal.

In a statement issued through its mission to the United Nations, Iran said, “Diplomacy is the only path forward” and that “threats of ‘overwhelming force’ won’t change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and US militarism only fuels instability.”

Tensions have also gone up on the Israeli side. Officials there said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been on extremely high alert, preparing for the possibility of military confrontation with Iran should negotiations collapse.

Trump has said he prefers diplomacy but warned that failure to reach a deal could lead to conflict.

Iran has signaled it may retaliate if the International Atomic Energy Agency votes this week to censure the country for failing to meet its nuclear commitments. The agency’s board of governors is expected to issue a resolution Thursday.