US and Iran make ‘significant progress’ in negotiations
The United States and Iran have made “significant progress” in talks to resolve their difficult nuclear dispute, according to mediator Oman.
JERUSALEM, Feb 27 (Reuters) – The United States will allow non-emergency government employees and family members to leave Israel due to security risks, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said on Friday, amid growing concerns about the risk of military conflict with Iran.
The embassy did not elaborate on the security risks that could lead to an “authorized departure,” in which affected staff could decide whether to leave. This does not extend to the departure orders issued this week for some employees of the U.S. embassy in Beirut.
The United States has built the largest military deployment in the Middle East as it negotiates with Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The latest round of talks concluded on Thursday, but there were no signs of a breakthrough.
Iran has threatened to attack any US military bases in the region, and if the situation escalates it could involve Israel. Both enemies fought a 12-day war in June.
As tensions between the United States and Iran escalate, several countries have begun withdrawing dependents of diplomats and non-essential personnel from some parts of the Middle East and advising their citizens to avoid traveling to Iran.
(Reporting by Tara Ramadan and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
