US starts returning staff to Middle East embassies after Iran war evacuations, sources say

The United States has begun returning staff to several of its Middle East embassies that were evacuated or downsized amid heightened tensions with Iran, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. The posts in Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Baghdad, Iraq, are among those where personnel will return, the sources said. Family members will also be allowed to return to the U.S. post in Riyadh, they added.

The move signals that Washington sees a lower risk of the conflict with Iran escalating in the near term, though some embassies will initially operate below full capacity, the sources said. Some embassies will initially operate at no more than 85 percent of authorized staffing levels. The return of some staff is expected to begin as early as this week, according to one of the sources.

Background: evacuations and closures

The United States pulled staff from embassies across the Middle East after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. Some embassies in Gulf Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, came under fire from Iran, forcing the latter to temporarily close.

Heavy fighting has since subsided, though a U.S. naval blockade of Iran remains in place and the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway for oil and commodity shipments—remains shut, with diplomatic efforts to end the war stalled.

State Department response

A State Department spokesperson told Reuters that the department continuously reviews the security posture of its diplomatic missions worldwide and adjusts staffing levels based on its latest assessments. Staffing decisions are driven by evolving security conditions, with the safety of employees and their families as the top priority, the spokesperson said, while also ensuring the U.S. can continue to advance its foreign policy goals.

Expected staffing levels

According to a report by The New York Times, embassies in Israel, Jordan and Oman are expected to return to full staffing levels, while missions in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would initially be capped at 85 percent staffing. Posts in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain would be limited to 75 percent staffing, the newspaper reported.

The New York Times also reported that the return of diplomats and the easing of emergency measures at U.S. missions in the region could begin as early as this week.

Context of staff reductions

The staff reductions began earlier amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Washington had authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and family members from Israel and other posts as the conflict intensified.