The administration of President Donald Trump is beginning to return personnel to several Middle East diplomatic missions that were evacuated or downsized during recent hostilities with Iran. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the restaffing process could begin as early as this week. The move follows a period of decreased fighting, though a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continue.
The decision to restore staffing levels follows a significant reduction in U.S. diplomatic presence that occurred after February 28, 2026, when joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began. During the conflict, U.S. embassies in Gulf Arab nations including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were targeted by Iranian fire, leading to temporary closures. A State Department spokesperson confirmed that the department is adjusting staffing at certain posts to advance foreign policy objectives while maintaining security.
According to the sources, the return of personnel will include posts in Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Baghdad, Iraq. In Riyadh, family members of diplomatic staff will also be permitted to return. While some embassies in Israel, Jordan, and Oman are expected to return to full staffing levels, others will remain under personnel caps. Missions in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Lebanon will initially be limited to 85% of authorized staffing, while posts in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain will be capped at 75%.
The scale of the operation involves at least nine countries: Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. While exact personnel counts were not reported, the use of percentage caps—down to 75% in some areas—indicates a significant portion of the diplomatic corps remains sidelined. For businesses and students relying on these missions for travel documents, the continued vacancy of one out of every four positions in places like Kuwait or Iraq could result in ongoing processing delays.
The partial restaffing suggests a shift in the U.S. assessment of regional risk, yet the persistence of the naval blockade and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz suggest that broader economic and military tensions remain unresolved. The closure of the Strait continues to impact global commodity shipping. Further updates on staffing levels or the status of the blockade are expected as diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled. Staffing changes were scheduled to begin as early as the week of August 24, 2026.