The US State Department on Wednesday began preparing to evacuate non-essential staff from the American embassy in Baghdad as regional tension flares over faltering efforts between Washington and Tehran to reach a nuclear deal.
At the same time, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authorised the departure of military dependants from locations across the region. Personnel from US embassies in Kuwait and Bahrain were reportedly on standby to be moved.
"They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place," President Donald Trump told reporters. "We've given notice to move out and we'll see what happens. [Iran] can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simply, they can't have a nuclear weapon, we’re not going to allow that.”
His comments came as the US and Iran hit an apparent impasse over talks to constrain Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme. Mr Trump has repeatedly asked ally Israel not to conduct a strike against Iran as talks continue.
Mr Trump said earlier that he was unsure Iran would agree to stop uranium enrichment in a nuclear deal, and Iran's Minister of Defence Aziz Nasirzadeh said Tehran will strike US bases in the region if nuclear talks fail and conflict arises with Washington.
Mr Trump told a New York Post podcast that he was “much less confident of a deal being made".
“They seem to be delaying, and I think that’s a shame,” the US President said in the interview recorded on Monday and released on Wednesday.
Mr Trump, who has previously said Israel or the US could strike Iranian nuclear facilities if negotiations failed, on Monday said that a sixth round of talks with Iran would begin this week. But Wednesday's tensions made new negotiations appear less likely.
Iran’s mission to the UN posted on social media that “threats of overwhelming force won’t change the facts".
“Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and US militarism only fuels instability,” the mission wrote.
On Tuesday, Central Command chief Gen Michael Kurilla said he had provided Mr Trump with options that could be used against Iran if Tehran and Washington fail to reach a new nuclear deal.
The State Department said it conducts a constant assessment of “the appropriate personnel posture at all our embassies”.
“President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad,” a department representative said in a statement to The National. “Based on our latest analysis, we decided to reduce our mission in Iraq.”
A US defence official told The National that Centcom is "monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East".
"Centcom is working in close co-ordination with our Department of State counterparts, as well as our allies and partners in the region to maintain a constant state of readiness," the official said. Centcom did not announce any troop movements.
A senior Iraqi diplomat told The National that the State Department informed the country that the withdrawal of non-essential personnel was due to heightened security risks.
Bahrain, home of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, hosts about 9,000 US troops. The US also has a military presence in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria and the UAE.
An Iraqi government official told the state news agency that the embassy evacuation relates to "procedures concerning the American diplomatic presence in a number of Middle Eastern countries, and are not specific to Iraq alone".
"The Iraqi side has not recorded any security indicators that would necessitate evacuation," the official added.
Earlier, Mr Nasirzadeh said Tehran was prepared to attack American bases in the region.
“If conflict is imposed on us the opponent’s casualties will certainly be more than ours, and in that case America must leave the region, because all its bases are within our reach,” he said. “We have access to them and we will target all of them in the host countries without hesitation.”
The Baghdad embassy has already been operating on limited staff, and the order will not affect a large number of personnel.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations on Wednesday said in an advisory note that it was aware of increased tension in the Middle East that could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.
The UKMTO advised ships to use caution when passing through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.
Company%20profile
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More coverage from the Future Forum
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Florida: The critical Sunshine State
Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.
Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Company%20profile
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
