US tells some embassy staff to leave Israel as Iran war clouds gather

2026-02-27 - 13:35

The United States authorised the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel on Friday, as it threatened strikes on Iran and pressed its biggest military build-up in the Middle East in decades. The move came a day after a round of Oman-mediated talks between Iran and the US seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war, though initial optimism was tempered by Tehran warning Washington must drop “excessive demands” to reach a deal. The talks follow repeated threats from President Donald Trump to...