The US embassy in Iraq is preparing for an ordered evacuation due to heightened security risks in the region, an Iraqi security official and a US source said on Wednesday.

The State Department said that officials decided to reduce the US mission in Iraq based on a recent security analysis.

"The State Department is set to have an ordered departure for the US embassy in Baghdad. The intent is to do it through commercial means, but the US military is standing by if help is requested," another US official said.

The US State Department said that it was preparing to order nonessential embassy personnel and family members to leave Bahrain and Kuwait, the Associated Press reported.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East, although most were located in Bahrain. 

US Army soldiers keep watch on the US embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq January 1, 2020 (credit: DOD/LT. COL. ADRIAN WEALE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
US Army soldiers keep watch on the US embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq January 1, 2020 (credit: DOD/LT. COL. ADRIAN WEALE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
"The safety and security of our service members and their families remains our highest priority and US Central Command is monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East," the official said. 

"Central Command is working in close coordination with our Department of State counterparts, as well as our allies and partners in the region to maintain a constant state of readiness to support any number of missions around the world at any time," the official added.

Iraqi officials noted to state media that Baghdad had not recorded any security indication that calls for evacuation. 

Another US official said that there was no change in operations at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military base in the Middle East, and that no evacuation order had been issued for employees or families linked to the US Embassy in Qatar, which was operating as usual.

Iran threatens to target US bases in the Middle East 

Iran's Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said earlier in the day that Tehran will strike US bases in the region if nuclear talks and conflict arise with Washington. 

"Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don't come to fruition. If a conflict is imposed on us... all US bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in host countries," Nasirzadeh said during a press conference.

Iran's official mission to the UN posted on X/Twitter that Tehran "is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and US militarism only fuels instability."

The Trump administration said that negotiations in the ongoing nuclear talks between the US and Iran will take place on Thursday. Iranian officials said they would take place on Sunday in Oman. 

US President Donald Trump said he was less confident that Iran would agree to stop uranium enrichment in a nuclear deal with Washington, according to an interview released on Wednesday. He has also repeatedly threatened Iran with bombing if it does not reach a new nuclear deal. 

Former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro told The Jerusalem Post that military action might not be imminent.

“The Trump administration appears to be taking some preparations for potential military action, possibly by Israel, against Iran. It does not necessarily mean anything is imminent, as it takes time to move US personnel from their posts. There is also still time for progress in the upcoming nuclear talks.  But it shows it is possible, and the United States wants to reduce risk. That can be useful leverage in the talks."