US To Pull Some Personnel From The Middle East Amid Rising Tensions With Iran

Summary:

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said U.S. personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place," adding that the United States would not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

Reuters reported earlier on Wednesday that the U.S. is preparing a partial evacuation of its Iraqi embassy and will allow military dependents to leave locations around the Middle East due to heightened security risks in the region, according to U.S. and Iraqi sources.

The four U.S. and two Iraqi sources did not say what security risks had prompted the decision and reports of the potential evacuation pushed up oil prices by more than 4%.

A U.S. official said the State Department had authorized voluntary departures from Bahrain and Kuwait.

The decision by the U.S. to evacuate some personnel comes at a volatile moment in the region. Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked and U.S. intelligence indicates that Israel has been making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

"They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters. "We've given notice to move out."

Asked whether anything can be done to lower the temperature in the region, Trump said: "They can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simple, they can't have a nuclear weapon."

Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if stuttering talks over its nuclear programme fail and in an interview released earlier on Wednesday said he was growing less confident that Tehran would agree to stop enriching uranium, a key American demand.

Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh also said on Wednesday that if Iran was subjected to strikes it would retaliate by hitting U.S. bases in the region.

The U.S. embassy in Kuwait said in a statement on Wednesday that it "has not changed its staffing posture and remains fully operational."

MILITARY PRESENCE

The United States has a military presence across the major oil-producing region, with bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East, a U.S. official said. Another U.S. official said that was mostly relevant to family members located in Bahrain -- where the bulk of them are based.

"The State Department is set to have an ordered departure for (the) U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The intent is to do it through commercial means, but the U.S. military is standing by if help is requested," a third U.S. official said.

Iraq's state news agency cited a government source as saying Baghdad had not recorded any security indication that called for an evacuation.

Another U.S. official said that there was no change in operations at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and that no evacuation order had been issued for employees or families linked to the U.S. embassy in Qatar, which was operating as usual.

TENSIONS

Oil futures climbed $3 on reports of the Baghdad evacuation with Brent crude futures at $69.18 a barrel.

Earlier on Wednesday Britain's maritime agency warned that increased tensions in the Middle East may lead to an escalation in military activity that could impact shipping in critical waterways. It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran.

Britain's Foreign Office said it was monitoring the situation and will keep its embassy in Iraq under constant review following the U.S. moves.

Iraq, a rare regional partner of both the United States and its arch regional foe Iran, hosts 2,500 U.S. troops although Tehran-backed armed factions are linked to its security forces.

Tensions inside Iraq have heightened since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Iran-aligned armed groups in the country repeatedly attacking U.S. troops, though attacks have subsided since last year.

Israel and Iran also twice exchanged fire last year - the first ever such direct attacks between the region's most entrenched enemies - with missiles and war drones hurtling across Iraqi airspace.

Top U.S. regional ally Israel has also struck Iran-linked targets across the region, including Iraqi armed groups operating both inside Iraq and in neighbouring Syria.

In recent months the United States had deployed more military assets in the Middle East -- including B-2 bombers, which have since been replaced, and extending the deployment of a second aircraft carrier, which has since departed.

The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is due in the coming days with Iran expected to hand over a counter proposal after rejecting an offer by Washington.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that a military threat has always been part of the United States’ negotiation tactics with Iran.

“Any military action against Iran, whether by the U.S. or Israel, will have serious consequences,” the official warned.

Iran's U.N. mission on Wednesday posted on X: "Threats of 'overwhelming force' won't change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and U.S. militarism only fuels instability."

The statement appeared to be a response to an earlier comment by U.S. Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, that he had provided the president with "a wide range of options" to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

Kurilla postponed testimony he was due to deliver before U.S. lawmakers on Thursday because of tensions in the Middle East, two other U.S. officials said.

Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Idrees Ali, Humeyra Pamuk and Steve Holland and Jeff Mason in Washington, Michelle Nichols in New York, Ahmed Rasheed and Timour Azhari in Baghdad and Parisa Hafezi in Dubai; Additional reporting by Sam Tabahriti in London; Writing by Jaidaa Taha, Yomna Ehab and Angus McDowall; Editing by Deepa Babington

Source: Reuters

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Patrick Turner

U.S. troops in Los Angeles are authorized to detain people until police can arrest them, their commanding officer said on Wednesday, as hundreds of Marines prepared to move into a city rocked by protests over President Donald Trump's immigration raids.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles endured a sixth day of protests that have been largely peaceful but occasionally punctuated by violence. The protests have spread to other U.S. cities and hundreds of nationwide demonstrations are planned for Saturday.

Trump's decision to dispatch troops to Los Angeles over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom has sparked a national debate about the use of the military on U.S. soil. Newsom's administration has sued the U.S. government to stop the deployment.

The Marines and National Guard could be deployed to protect federal personnel and property during immigration raids or related protests, officials have said.

Trump is carrying out a campaign promise to deport immigrants, employing forceful tactics consistent with the norm-breaking political style that got him elected twice. Democrats condemn these tactics as authoritarian, arguing they undermine democratic traditions.

"If I didn't act quickly on that, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground right now," said Trump at an event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

U.S. Army Major General Scott Sherman, who commands the deployed troops, told reporters that the 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops cannot make arrests but could briefly detain people.

"They do not do any arrests. They're strictly there to detain to wait for law enforcement to come and handle those demonstrators," Sherman said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said he was asking military leaders for clarification on the matter.

"My understanding at this point is that they do not have the powers to arrest or detain," Luna told a press conference.

The use of military forces is at the heart of California's lawsuit. The state maintains that none of the conditions were met to justify military deployment - such as a rebellion or danger thereof. It is also seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately stop the National Guard and Marines from participating in civilian law enforcement.

A hearing on that restraining order is scheduled for Thursday in San Francisco federal court.

Item 1 of 19 U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, who were placed in an alert status over the weekend, rehearse crowd control tactics at a base in the greater Los Angeles area, California, U.S. June 10, 2025. U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Juan Torres/Handout via REUTERS

[1/19]U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, who were placed in an alert status over the weekend, rehearse crowd control tactics at a base in the greater Los Angeles area, California, U.S. June 10, 2025. U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Juan Torres/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

The Trump administration argued in a court filing ahead of the hearing that the president has the discretion to determine whether a "rebellion or danger of a rebellion" requires a military response.

The Marines, who have been training at Seal Beach just south of Los Angeles County, will move to the city soon, but not on Wednesday, Sherman said. They will not carry live ammunition in their rifles, he added.

MAYORS OPPOSE TRUMP

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, joined at a press conference by about 30 other California mayors, said the White House has overstepped its authority and has provoked the unrest.

The mayor of a neighboring city, Arturo Flores of Huntington Park, said that as a former Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan he wanted to remind military personnel that the people of Los Angeles were not foreign enemies."When we lifted our hands and we swore the oath to defend the Constitution and to defend this country, that oath was to the American people," Flores said. "It was not to a dictator, it was not to a tyrant, it was not to a president, it was to the American people and the people that are here in these communities ... are Americans, whether they have a document or they don't, you're dealing with Americans."

National Guard personnel have joined U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in a support role on raids and have stood guard at a federal detention facility targeted by the protesters.

Bass blamed a few troublemakers for disrupting largely peaceful protests that have been limited to about five downtown streets.

Even so, given the amount of looting, property damage and graffiti, Bass imposed a curfew over one square mile (2.5 square km) of the city's downtown starting on Tuesday night.

The Los Angeles Police Department said it arrested 225 people on Tuesday, including 203 for failing to disperse and 17 for violating the curfew. In all, police have arrested more than 400 people since Friday.

"President Trump promised to carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in American history and left-wing riots will not deter him in that effort," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Elsewhere, protesters marched in New York, Atlanta and Chicago on Tuesday night, chanting anti-ICE slogans and at times clashing with law enforcement.

The protests are set to expand on Saturday, when several activist groups have planned more than 1,800 anti-Trump demonstrations across the country. That day, tanks and other armored vehicles will rumble down the streets of Washington, D.C., in a military parade marking the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday.

Reporting by Brad Brooks, Omar Younis, Jane Ross and Arafat Barbakh in Los Angeles, Dietrich Knauth in New York, and Idrees Ali and Tim Reid in Washington; Additional reporting by Costas Pitas, Christian Martinez, Ryan Jones, Ted Hesson and Jasper Ward; Writing by Joseph Ax and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Ross Colvin, Rod Nickel and Lisa Shumaker

Source: Reuters

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Nathaniel Wright

Key Points:

● U.S. weighs extending tariff suspension amid global trade talks.

● Short-term relief expected in financial markets.

● No immediate crypto disruptions linked to tariff news.

Treasury Secretary Besent announced on June 12 that the U.S. may extend the 90-day tariff suspension for partners negotiating in good faith, stated in a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee in Washington.

This potential extension aims to reduce trade uncertainty and stabilize markets. Market response has been calm, with no direct crypto impact reported.

U.S. Evaluates Extending Tariff Suspension Amid Key Trade Talks

U.S. Treasury Secretary Besent stated that the Trump administration might lengthen the tariff suspension, initially set for 90 days, beyond the July 9 deadline. The decision depends on whether major U.S. trade partners negotiate in good faith. The announcement came during a hearing at the House Ways and Means Committee, signaling an open stance amid complex global negotiations.

This development offers temporary market relief by reducing trade uncertainties. Analysts suggest such market-friendly gestures help stabilize trading conditions, supporting broader economic dynamics. The potential extension aims to facilitate continued dialogue with the 18 key trading partners mentioned by Besent, promoting ongoing negotiations without immediate financial disruption.

Market participants reacted cautiously. While stablecoin assets like USDT and USDC remain intricately tied to U.S. Treasury markets, the news did not trigger notable volatility. Analysts like Michaël van de Poppe view the broader economic climate positively, reflecting a bullish sentiment for digital assets given current stable macro conditions. As van de Poppe noted, “Bitcoin's recent breakout above the $106,500 resistance level triggered a swift move to $108,000, followed by a rapid retest that was aggressively bought up… confirming upward momentum in the current Bitcoin trend.”

Market Stability Despite Tariff Policy Speculation

Did you know? Previous tariff suspensions often led to interim periods of market calm, only to be followed by pronounced volatility upon deadline expiration or negotiation breakdowns, showing markets' sensitivity to policy timelines.

Tether USDt (USDT) holds a market cap of $155.20 billion and shows price stability with unchanged value at $1.00, reflecting a 0.00% price change over 24 hours (CoinMarketCap). The 24-hour trading volume decreased by 9.50%, aligning with maintained market stability amid current macroeconomic trends.

Tether USDt(USDT), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 00:26 UTC on June 12, 2025. Source: CoinMarketCap

Coincu research indicates that while crypto markets remain stable, future regulatory or financial shifts linked to tariff policies could affect crypto liquidity.

Source: CryptoSlate

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Olivia Brooks

Economic

Political

China–U.S. Trade War

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he will send letters to major economies setting his planned trade tariffs in the coming weeks, before a July 9 deadline to strike trade deals with his administration.

“At a certain point we’re just going to send letters out saying ‘this is the deal,’ you can take it or you can leave it,” Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Center.

“We’re going to be sending letters out in a week and a half to two weeks telling them what the deal is.”

Trump said talks were ongoing with Japan, South Korea, and about 15 countries.

It remained unclear whether Trump would make good on his tariff deadline, given that the president has set trade deadlines of two to three weeks in the past, only for them to pass either with no action or more extension.

When asked if he was willing to extend his July 9 deadline for trade talks, Trump said “I would, but I don’t think we’re going to have that necessity.”

Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs are set to take effect in early July, after the president initially unveiled them in April but announced a 90-day extension for trade talks. The president has threatened to impose steep tariffs on major U.S. trading partners unless they agree to a trade deal with the country.

So far, Trump’s administration has signed a trade deal only with the UK, and recently formed a trade framework with China.

Trump claimed on Wednesday that a trade deal with China was “done,” and that the U.S. had secured the supply of rare earths from the country. But more details on the deal were not provided.

Source: Investing

To stay updated on all economic events of today, please check out our Economic calendar

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Manuel

China–U.S. Trade War

Economic

The stock market has been encouraged by easing tensions between the US and China in recent weeks, but investors were largely unmoved by the announcement of a trade deal between the superpowers on Tuesday.

US stock futures failed to climb on news of the deal late Tuesday evening. While markets are edging higher on Wednesday, that's largely because the consumer price index report for May showed inflation was tamer than expected at 2.4% year-over-year.

On the trade front, observers say it's looking more likely that the trade war will shake out like it did during President Donald Trump's first term, with talk of constructive deals even as tensions remain elevated.

Simply put, investors see a long and winding path ahead, and knee-jerk reactions to trade announcements have largely subsided since the chaos of "Liberation Day" in April.

The framework agreement announced on Tuesday outlines how the two nations will continue trade talks. Importantly, it involves China allowing exports of rare earth minerals, while the US eases up on restrictions for exports of advanced tech to China, like semiconductors.

The reaction is far more muted than how the market reacted last month, when stocks popped after the US struck a rough framework deal with China that lowered tariffs between the nations for 90 days.

Art Hogan, the chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth, told Business Insider that markets are reacting to trade talks similarly to when the US-China trade war first kicked off in 2018. He pointed to regular pullbacks in stocks during Trump's first term as traders digested the lack of progress in US-China negotiations.

"We still have that muscle memory from Trump 1.0, that dealing with China is difficult and there's a multitude of issues," Hogan said. "I don't think we're going to solve this in short order and likely never solve it in the longer term."

He added that markets are likely waiting for a more positive catalyst, pointing to more than 100 nations that have yet to strike a trade deal with the US.

Peter Berezin, the chief global strategist at BCA Research, said the framework made only small progress on negotiations with China.

"I would say that the 'deal' in London simply restores things to how they were right after Geneva," he told BI in an email. He added that he expected tariffs on China to remain high "for the foreseeable future."

Strategists at Deutsche Bank also said that tariff talks appear to mirror the 2018-2019 period, when the US and China didn't make much headway in resolving key issues.

Back then, the US said that China had unfair trade practices related to industries like agriculture and manufacturing. It also said China had unfairly transferred technology and stolen intellectual property from the US.

Deutsche Bank pointed out that the agreement announced Tuesday skipped over fentanyl-related tariffs that Trump implemented against China earlier this year.

"So while the mood music has stayed positive, investors may be wary of the pattern that emerged during the previous US-China trade talks in 2018-19," strategists wrote. "So there's perhaps a little disappointment this morning that we haven't yet got a bigger announcement."

The agreement also appeared to lack detail that markets were looking for, David Morrison, a senior market analyst at Trade Nation, wrote in a note.

"The big question is what kind of trade deals can the US negotiate that will be good enough to get the indices to fresh records?" he said.

US stocks have whipsawed this year amid the turmoil surrounding tariffs and incremental news of trade agreements between the US and other countries.

Indexes have erased their steep losses since the April 2 tariff announcements, with major averages now positive year-to-date.

Source: Business insider

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Olivia Brooks

Political

The US ordered some staff to depart the embassy in Baghdad and allowed military service members’ families to leave the Middle East, officials said, after Iran threatened to attack US bases if talks over its nuclear program fall through.

The decision to reduce staffing in Iraq was “based on our latest analysis,” according to the State Department. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized family members of US military stationed across the region to leave, according to a Pentagon statement.

Neither statement cited a specific threat but the New York Post published an interview in which President Donald Trump said he’s growing less confident about the prospects for negotiations to impose new limits on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran, meanwhile, warned of retaliation against US military assets in the Middle East if the talks collapse and the Islamic Republic is attacked.

“I sincerely hope it won’t come to that and that the talks reach a resolution,” Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said in televised remarks. “But if they don’t, and conflict is imposed on us, the other side will undoubtedly suffer greater losses. We will target all US bases in host countries without hesitation.”

West Texas Intermediate futures surged as much as 5.2% after Reuters reported earlier that the US embassy is preparing for an ordered departure in response to heightened security risks in the region. Iraq is the second-largest OPEC producer.

Earlier in the day, the UK Navy issued a rare warning to mariners that higher tensions in the Middle East could affect shipping, including through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping has often been risky in the Middle East, but UKMTO, which acts as a liaison between the navy and commercial shipping, rarely puts out general warnings such as this one.

“UKMTO has been made aware of increased tensions within the region which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners,” the advisory said. “Vessels are advised to transit the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Straits of Hormuz with caution.”

The Joint Maritime Information Center, an information sharing hub that comes under the Combined Maritime Forces, warned of heightened risks from the discord, including the possible use of missiles around chokepoints.

Source: Yahoo Finance

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Manuel

Cryptocurrency

Stocks

GameStop Corp. plans to raise $1.75 billion through a private offering of convertible senior notes due 2032, as the company explores digital asset investments, including potential Bitcoin acquisitions, under its updated investment strategy, according to a June 11 press release.

The zero-coupon notes will be offered to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act, with an option for initial purchasers to buy an additional $250 million within 13 days of issuance.

The unsecured notes will not bear interest, will not accrete, and will mature on June 15, 2032, unless converted, redeemed, or repurchased earlier.

GameStop said it may settle conversions in cash, stock, or a combination. The conversion rate and other final terms will be determined at the time of pricing.

Bitcoin treasury accumulation

While GameStop did not disclose specific investment targets, it stated that proceeds will be used for “general corporate purposes,” including acquisitions and investments aligned with its Investment Policy, which permits the company to allocate capital to Bitcoinand other blockchain-based assets.

The move echoes similar strategies by companies such as MicroStrategy, which used convertible debt to amass over 200,000 BTC, turning the cryptocurrency into a strategic treasury reserve.

Market speculation around GameStop’s potential Bitcoin exposure has grown in recent weeks, particularly after executive reshuffles and broader engagement with the digital asset space.

The firm previously raised $1.3 billion through another convertible note offering, which led to an acquisition of 4,710 BTC for its treasury last month.

GameStop has previously hinted at ambitions beyond retail gaming, exploring digital wallets, NFTs, and decentralized infrastructure. This latest financing round could give the company additional flexibility to pursue a more aggressive pivot toward blockchain-related assets or technologies.

Limiting immediate dilution

The offering allows GameStop to raise capital without immediate shareholder dilution. However, future conversions of the notes into equity could increase the outstanding share count.

The company retains the flexibility to settle in cash, which may limit dilution depending on stock performance at the time of conversion.

The notes and any shares issuable upon conversion will not be registered under federal securities laws and may not be publicly offered or sold in the US without an exemption.

GameStop shares slipped slightly in after-hours trading following the announcement, indicating that investors remain skeptical of its investment plans for now.