WASHINGTON: The United States has ordered nonessential diplomats and their family members at the US Embassy in Beirut to leave Lebanon, the State Department said Monday, as tensions over Iran rise with the threat of a potentially imminent military strike.
The department said in an updated travel alert for US citizens in Lebanon that it “ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of government personnel due to the security situation in Beirut.”
The alert, which was formally released several hours after word began to circulate about the move, said US personnel remaining in Lebanon would have their in-country travel restricted.
A department official said earlier that a continuous assessment of the regional security environment determined it was “prudent” to draw down the US Embassy Beirut’s footprint so that only essential personnel remain at their posts.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the move was formally announced, said that it is a temporary measure and that the embassy will remain operational.
Lebanon has been the site of numerous Iran-related retaliatory attacks against US facilities, interests and personnel for decades given Tehran’s support for and influence with the Hezbollah militant group, which is held responsible for the deadly bombings of the Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 and an embassy annex in 1984.
As such, changes in the staffing status of the embassy in Beirut have often been seen as a bellwether for potential US or Israeli military action in the region, particularly against Iran. A similar ordered departure was imposed for Beirut and other embassies in the region, including in Iraq, shortly before President Donald Trump ordered military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last June.
It was unclear if other American embassies in the Middle East would implement similar orders.
Tensions have escalated between the US and Iran as Trump has built up the largest military presence in the Middle East in decades and repeatedly threatened action if Tehran does not negotiate a deal to constrain its nuclear program. A second aircraft carrier is heading to the region to join a surge of other American warships and aircraft, offering the Republican president several options for a potential strike even as talks may continue.
Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Al-Busaidi, said the US and Iran plan to hold their next round of nuclear talks Thursday in Geneva. A US official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the meeting.
Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, told CBS on Sunday that he expected to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff then and said a “good chance” remained for a diplomatic solution on the nuclear issue.
Araghchi has said a proposed deal would be ready to share within days, and he told CBS that Iran was still working on it.
Asked Friday whether the US could take limited military action as the countries negotiate, Trump said, “I guess I can say I am considering that.” He also told reporters later that Iran “better negotiate a fair deal.”
Indirect talks between the longtime adversaries in recent weeks have made little visible progress. Beyond the nuclear program, Iran has refused to discuss wider US and Israeli demands that it scale back its missile program and sever ties to armed groups.
A second State Department official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that had not been formally announced, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio may delay his intended visit to Israel this weekend.
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Earlier, India’s foreign ministry urged its citizens Monday to leave Iran also as a preventive measure, AFP reported.
“In view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran... are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights,” the Indian Embassy in Tehran said in a post on social media.
India’s foreign ministry estimates there are usually around 10,000 citizens in Iran.
