US diplomats and family members slowly begin to return to the Mideast embassies

The United States is witnessing a gradual return of diplomats and their families to embassies in the Middle East, following a six-month period of orders to evacuate during the Iran conflict. The move is not indicative of a change in U.S. policy towards Iran, which has now shifted its focus to economic warfare rather than military confrontation.

Instead, the changes are primarily due to legalities surrounding human resources policy, which restricts the duration diplomats can be away from their posts while still maintaining their pay and benefits.

On the day Iran's war entered its sixth month, embassies in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain announced the return of diplomats' families, although the age requirement varied between countries. In Bahrain and Kuwait, the rule applied only to individuals over the age of 18, while in Israel and Lebanon, all family members of U.S. government employees, including those over the age of 21, were permitted to return.

These embassies had been placed under "ordered departure" or "authorized departure" status in March, as Iran retaliated for U.S. and Israeli attacks by targeting diplomatic establishments and military facilities in the region. "Ordered departure" required all nonessential personnel and their families to leave the country, while "authorized departure" allowed staff deemed nonessential and their families to leave.