US said returning diplomats to Mideast, signaling fresh Iran hostilities not imminent

The US is poised to send diplomatic staff back to embassies in the Middle East that were cleared out amid the war with Iran, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing an internal State Department document and three anonymous US officials.

According to the report, the move suggests Washington does not expect the military conflict to reignite in the immediate future, despite the stalled negotiations between the US and Iran.

With talks in a deadlock, Washington has increasingly turned to economic pressure in an apparent effort to force Tehran to make concessions at the negotiating table. On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled what he described as an “economic D-Day” of secondary sanctions intended to “sever every economic lifeline” sustaining Iran.

The diplomats’ redeployment is expected to start as soon as this week.

The report named several countries expected to get staff reinstated, including Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman.

The State Department told the paper it “continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world. Based on our latest assessment, we are adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East to ensure we can continue advancing US foreign policy objectives while protecting the safety and security of our personnel.”

The paper quoted former officials as saying that the move appeared to be a clear indication the US did not see a return to full-scale any time soon.

“Returning personnel to missions that were partly evacuated suggests the administration believes the war is winding down,” former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro told the Times.

However, others cautioned that the fact that some family members were not returning signified significant risk, and noted that bringing back diplomats was no guarantee.

“Bringing back embassy staff does not tie their hands for taking action against Iran in the future,” Robert Danin, a former deputy assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs, told the paper. “They did it once, they can do it again.”

The day before the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February, Washington authorized nonessential personnel at its Jerusalem embassy and their families to depart Israel. As Iranian drones and rockets subsequently struck American diplomatic facilities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and elsewhere, the State Department ordered further evacuations from missions across the region.

The Lebanese embassy was reportedly set to be the first to receive diplomats, though the mission will continue operating below full capacity. Meanwhile, embassies in Israel, Jordan and Oman are expected to return to complete staffing.

Missions in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will initially operate at up to 85 percent of normal staffing, while those in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain will be limited to 75%. Restrictions on diplomats bringing family members will remain in effect across Lebanon and the six Gulf states.