US Embassies in West Asia Prepare for an Extended Period With Minimal Staff

According to Khabaronline, citing CNN, the US State Department has issued an urgent directive asking its embassies across West Asia to draw up plans for continuing operations with minimal staff. Khabaronline, citing the newspaper Hamshahri, reported on Wednesday, August 12, that the decision followed rising tensions and Washington's concern over the possibility of direct military conflict with Iran.

Under the directive, staff who had already left their posts in the region have now been given options to formally end their diplomatic assignments. The move comes as the US and Israel's war with Iran has disrupted transit through the Strait of Hormuz for weeks, with concern growing over the conflict's reach into American diplomatic facilities in the region.