US embassy exit, China evacuation call: Is Washington positioning for Iran strikes? Here's what we know

An Iranian woman walks past an anti-US mural featuring Iran-US talks, next to the former US embassy in Tehran on February 26, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

The US is evacuating non-emergency embassy staff from Israel and expanding its military presence amid rising tensions with Iran. Diplomacy continues, but speculation grows about possible US strikes if talks fail, prompting China to advise its citizens to leave Iran.

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Speculation is growing that the United States may be preparing for possible strikes on Iran after Washington authorised the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel and significantly expanded its military presence in the Middle East.

The US embassy in Israel announced that it was allowing non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave “due to safety risks.”

“Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,” the embassy said on its website.

According to The New York Times, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sent an email to embassy staff urging immediate action. Those wishing to leave “should do so TODAY”, he wrote.

“Focus on getting a seat to anyplace from which you can then continue travel to DC, but the first priority will be getting expeditiously out of country,” Huckabee was quoted as saying.

Massive US military build-up in the region

The embassy move coincides with what has been described as the largest US military build-up in the Middle East in decades. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is due to arrive off the coast of Israel. Washington already has more than a dozen warships deployed in the region, including another aircraft carrier.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran. On February 19, he gave Tehran 15 days to reach a deal.

In his State of the Union address this week, Trump said Iran had “already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they're working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America”.

He also accused Iran of “pursuing sinister nuclear ambitions”, allegations that Tehran has consistently denied. The Iranian foreign ministry described the claims as “big lies”.

Diplomacy continues but friction persists

The developments come even as Oman-mediated talks between Iran and the United States resumed in Geneva. The negotiations are widely seen as a last attempt to avoid open conflict.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the discussions “made very good progress and entered into the elements of an agreement very seriously, both in the nuclear field and in the sanctions field”.

He added that the next round would take place in “perhaps less than a week”, with technical talks at the UN’s nuclear agency beginning in Vienna on Monday.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi also struck an optimistic tone. “We have finished the day after significant progress,” he said in a post on X.

However, Tehran warned that Washington must moderate its position. Araghchi said that “success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands”.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration’s negotiating team intends to demand that Iran dismantle its three main nuclear sites and hand over all remaining enriched uranium to the United States. While Iran insists talks should focus solely on nuclear issues, Washington also wants restrictions on Tehran’s missile programme and its support for militant groups.

China advises citizens to leave

Growing concerns about a possible conflict prompted China to advise its nationals in Iran to leave “as soon as possible”.

“Chinese nationals currently in Iran are advised to strengthen safety precautions and evacuate as soon as possible,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a social media statement.

It also urged citizens to avoid travelling to Iran “in light of the current security situation” and said Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and neighbouring countries would provide “necessary assistance” to those relocating via commercial flights or overland routes.

China’s embassy in Israel warned citizens to remain vigilant. According to state broadcaster CCTV, they should “familiarise themselves in advance with nearby bomb shelters and evacuation routes to ensure personal and property safety”.

UN voices alarm

The United Nations has also expressed concern over the rising tensions. UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was “extremely alarmed” at the risk of regional escalation and added, “I hope the voice of reason prevails”.

Turk also pointed to internal instability in Iran, where a mass crackdown on nationwide protests last month left thousands dead according to rights groups. “The situation in Iran remains volatile,” he told the Human Rights Council in Geneva, noting that protests have resumed around universities, “making it clear that the underlying grievances remain”.

Is Washington preparing for military action

The combination of embassy evacuations, a major naval deployment and hardening rhetoric has intensified speculation that Washington is positioning itself for military action if negotiations collapse.

A previous diplomatic effort fell apart last June when Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering a 12-day conflict that the United States briefly joined to bomb Iranian nuclear sites.

For now, talks are continuing. But with forces moving into place and deadlines approaching, the possibility of escalation remains a serious concern across the region.