Speaking at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, President Donald Trump addressed the escalating situation, stating,
When asked by reporters if any steps could be taken to de-escalate tensions in the region, Trump reiterated his focus on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
READ ALSO: African Union (AU) express concerns over Donald Trump’s expanded Travel ban
“They (Iran) can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simple. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to allow that,” Trump answered.
The U.S. State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency staff from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, while the Pentagon authorized the voluntary exit of military families from countries including Kuwait and Bahrain.
On June 11, 2025, the United States began evacuating non-emergency embassy staff and military dependents from Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries.
“They [U.S. personnel] are being moved out [of the Middle East] because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters.
The move follows reports that Israel has informed U.S. officials it is “fully ready” to launch strikes on Iran, with concerns that Iran could retaliate against American sites in Iraq, according to CBS News.
