WASHINGTON (Realist English). The US State Department is asking American embassies across the Middle East to develop plans for operating with minimal staff for an indefinite period, CNN reports, citing sources within the department.
The decision reflects the State Department’s confidence that the war with Iran will not end in the foreseeable future.
As TASS notes, the State Department “does not expect a return to normal staffing levels in the region in the near future due to the threat of a full‑scale return to war.”
The plans have not yet been approved, and it is unclear whether they will be implemented at all embassies, which are already operating with reduced staff.
Timeline: from evacuation to restricted operations
The downsizing of diplomatic missions began shortly after the start of the US‑Israeli war with Iran on 28 February.
The State Department ordered non‑essential personnel and family members to leave nearly all diplomatic posts in the region.
Over the following weeks, as US diplomatic facilities became targets for attacks by Iran and its allies, the evacuation was extended to Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
| Date | Event |
| 28 February 2026 | US‑Israel war against Iran begins; embassy staff evacuated |
| March 2026 | US Embassy in Kuwait completely suspends operations |
| Late June 2026 | Embassy in Kuwait resumes operations in emergency mode |
| July 2026 | US‑Iran memorandum of understanding collapses |
| August 2026 | State Department requests embassies to plan for “restricted operations” mode |
Embassy status: Kuwait and Oman
Under State Department rules, “ordered departure” status cannot be extended beyond 180 days.
After this period expires, if an embassy cannot return to normal operations, it is transferred to “restricted operations” mode, which imposes strict limits on the number of staff on the ground.
| Diplomatic Mission | Current Status |
| US Embassy in Kuwait | “Ordered departure” – emergency operations only |
| US Embassy in Oman | “Authorised departure” – voluntary evacuation |
| Embassies in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE | Reduced staff; non‑essential personnel evacuated |
State Department response and consequences
A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on internal discussions but confirmed that the department “continually reviews the security posture and staffing levels of each diplomatic mission based on conditions on the ground.”
“The safety of our employees and their families remains the department’s top priority,” the spokesperson said.
Former diplomats note that reducing staff on the ground could affect the State Department’s ability to provide timely consular assistance to Americans abroad and to support administration priorities.
Humanitarian consequences for staff
The sudden downsizing has left diplomats and their families – many of whom had several years left on their assignments – in a difficult position. They have been forced to urgently find housing and schools for their children in the US.
Since it was unclear how long the embassies would operate with reduced staff, families could not sign long‑term leases.
One diplomat’s spouse told CNN that their family had been “moving from place to place” throughout this period, unable to risk the financial consequences of breaking a long‑term lease.
The State Department’s decision to transfer embassies to restricted operations mode reflects the seriousness with which Washington views the threat from Iran and its allies.
The request to prepare “reduced operations” plans indicates that Washington does not expect a quick resolution to the conflict.
However, the transition to such a mode creates serious challenges: reduced diplomatic presence could limit US capacity to influence the situation in the region and to provide consular assistance to American citizens. In addition, the humanitarian consequences for staff and their families – uncertainty, financial losses and disruption to daily life – remain a pressing issue that the State Department has yet to resolve.
The key question is whether the shift to “restricted operations” will be a temporary measure – or whether the US will be forced to scale back its diplomatic presence in the Middle East for the long haul, inevitably changing the balance of power in the region.
