The Trump administration is preparing to return U.S. diplomats to embassies across the Middle East that were partially evacuated during the war with Iran, a move that suggests Washington does not expect a return to full-scale hostilities in the immediate future.

The redeployment of foreign service officers and the easing of emergency measures at U.S. diplomatic missions could begin as early as this week, according to an internal State Department document reviewed by The New York Times.

Three U.S. officials familiar with the plans confirmed the changes, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them publicly.

Embassies expected to increase staffing include U.S. missions in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait. The State Department said it was adjusting its staffing levels based on an ongoing assessment of security conditions.

“The State Department continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world,” the department said in a statement. “Based on our latest assessment, we are adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East to ensure we can continue advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives while protecting the safety and security of our personnel.”

The decision marks a notable shift from the emergency measures adopted as the conflict escalated earlier this year.

In late February, a day before U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, nonessential employees at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and their families were given the option of leaving Israel at government expense. As fighting intensified, the State Department ordered personnel to evacuate or reduce their presence at diplomatic missions across the region after Iranian forces and allied groups launched drones and rockets at U.S. facilities in countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq.

Some diplomats subsequently worked remotely from their homes rather than from embassy compounds as a security precaution.

Lebanon among first posts to receive returning diplomats

Under the new plan, the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon would be the first mission to receive returning diplomats, although staffing there would remain below normal levels.

Eventually, staffing would return to full capacity at U.S. embassies in Israel, Jordan and Oman. Missions in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would initially operate at up to 85% of their staffing levels, while posts in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain would be capped at 75%.

The State Department would also continue restricting the arrival of family members at missions in the Gulf and Lebanon, according to the document.

That limitation indicates that Washington still considers the security environment unsettled.

“The limits on family members in the Gulf suggest that the government still believes there is an elevated risk,” said John R. Bass, who served as under secretary of state for management during the Biden administration.

“They suggest that the threat environment is less than 30, 60, or 90 days ago, but more than before the start of the war.”

Current and former U.S. officials said the decision to begin redeploying diplomats nevertheless points to a reduction in tensions, even as diplomatic efforts to extend a 60-day cease-fire between Washington and Tehran have stalled.

“Returning personnel to missions that were partly evacuated suggests the administration believes the war is winding down,” said Dan Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Barack Obama who later served as a senior Pentagon official overseeing Middle East policy during the Biden administration.

The decision also comes as some diplomats who were evacuated during the conflict have sought greater clarity over where they would be assigned, according to two U.S. officials. The issue was particularly pressing for employees with children, who needed to make decisions about schooling ahead of the new academic year.

It remains unclear whether those concerns played a role in the State Department's decision.

A signal of restraint, but not a guarantee of peace

Former U.S. officials cautioned against interpreting the redeployment as proof that the conflict is permanently over.

While bringing diplomats and some family members back to the region may indicate that the Trump administration wants to avoid another round of fighting with Iran, it does not prevent Washington from taking military action again if tensions escalate.

“Bringing back embassy staff does not tie their hands for taking action against Iran in the future,” said Robert Danin, a former deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs.

“They did it once,” he said, referring to the embassy evacuations earlier this year. “They can do it again.”