The move comes at a moment of mounting tensions between Iran and the United States, as Iranian leaders have threatened a regional conflict if attacked.
The U.S. State Department has ordered the withdrawal of non-essential personnel from the U.S. embassy in Lebanon amid heightened security concerns.
“We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel,” a senior State Department official told The Epoch Times on Feb. 23.
While the State Department official did not specify the security concerns that prompted the staff drawdown at the embassy in Beirut, the move comes amid mounting tensions between the United States and Iran.
For weeks, U.S. forces have been amassing across the Middle East, as President Donald Trump has called on Tehran to submit to new security constraints. The president has threatened military action if no deal is reached, and Iranian officials have warned they could respond in ways that would spread the conflict across the Middle East.
Tehran has historically partnered with and supported Hezbollah, a designated terrorist group based in Lebanon.
The State Department official who spoke to The Epoch Times described the latest security precautions as “a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist U.S. citizens.”
For now, the State Department official said the embassy in Beirut remains operational with its core staff.
Trump has ordered two U.S. carrier strike groups to the Middle East. In recent weeks, dozens of U.S. warplanes and aerial refueling aircraft have also gathered at airbases across the region.
Speaking to a gathering of world leaders on Feb. 19, Trump noted the June 2025 U.S. strikes on Iran and said, “We may have to take it a step further.”
“You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days,” Trump added during his Feb. 19 remarks.
In an interview with CBS News on Feb. 22, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could approve a set of terms for a potential deal with the United States this week. Araghchi said he anticipates being ready to present the terms at a round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 26.
Lebanon has long been a venue for heightened regional tensions.
By Ryan Morgan and Emel Akan
