US to restore staffing at Middle East embassies after Iran war evacuations

The United States is preparing to return diplomats to several Middle Eastern embassies that were evacuated during the war with Iran, according to a report by the New York Times. The move suggests Washington does not expect a return to full-scale fighting in the immediate future.

According to an internal State Department document cited by NYT, Foreign Service officers could begin returning to their posts as early as this week. The plan covers US diplomatic missions in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait. The US Embassy in Lebanon is expected to be the first to receive returning diplomats, although it will continue operating below full staffing.

Under the plan, staffing would eventually return to full strength in Israel, Jordan and Oman. Embassies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would initially operate at up to 85% staffing, while missions in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain would be capped at 75%. The State Department said it was continually reviewing security conditions at its diplomatic missions and adjusting staffing levels to allow the US to pursue its foreign-policy objectives while protecting personnel.

The planned return comes despite the fact that US-Iran talks have stalled and Washington has continued to increase economic pressure on Tehran. The US announced a fresh round of sanctions on August 24 targeting Iranian military activities, procurement networks, cyber operations and petroleum trade. The decision to bring diplomats back nevertheless represents a significant shift from earlier this year.

The US began reducing its diplomatic presence in the region after tensions with Iran escalated in February, with nonessential personnel and family members evacuated from several posts. Some embassies were subsequently hit or targeted by drones and rockets during the conflict. Former US officials said the redeployment could indicate that Washington believes the immediate risk of renewed fighting has fallen. But they cautioned that it should not be interpreted as proof of a lasting peace. Restrictions on family members at several Gulf missions also suggest that the State Department continues to see an elevated security threat. The move is less a declaration that the Iran conflict is over and more a signal that Washington believes its diplomats can begin returning while the fragile post-war standoff continues.