US prepares to send diplomats back to Middle East embassies after Iran war evacuations, NYT reports

Washington, Aug 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department is preparing to return diplomats to several Middle East embassies that were evacuated before and during the war with Iran, according to an internal State Department document cited by The New York Times on Tuesday.

The move could begin as early as this week, with foreign service officers returning and emergency measures at U.S. missions across the region being gradually lifted, the report said.

The planned staffing increases will affect embassies in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait, according to the document. The first returnees are expected to be assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, though staffing levels there would remain below full capacity for now.

U.S. officials said the changes follow a regular review of security conditions at diplomatic posts worldwide.

"The State Department is continuously reviewing the security posture of its diplomatic missions worldwide and is adjusting staffing levels at certain posts in the Middle East following its latest assessment," a spokesperson said in an email.

"Staffing decisions are driven by evolving security conditions, with the safety of employees and their families remaining the top priority, while advancing U.S. foreign policy goals," the spokesperson added.

According to the internal document, embassies in Israel, Jordan and Oman are expected to eventually return to full staffing. Posts in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would initially be capped at 85% staffing, while missions in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain would be limited to 75%.

The reductions began in February, when Washington authorized voluntary departures of non-emergency personnel and family members from Israel amid escalating tensions with Iran. The latest plans suggest the State Department now sees enough stability in parts of the region to begin restoring normal operations, though the calibrated caps indicate a degree of caution remains.

The phased return also gives Washington a practical way to reassert U.S. diplomatic presence in a region where the scope of American engagement had sharply narrowed. It is likely to be read as a signal of confidence in security conditions, but officials have not characterized it as a shift in policy toward Iran.

(Reporting by Bipasha Dey and Abu Sultan in Bengaluru; Editing by Alex Richardson, Conor Humphries and Alistair Bell)