The US State and Defense departments on Wednesday made efforts to arrange the departure of non-essential personnel from locations around the Middle East, according to US officials and sources familiar with the efforts.

The decision comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East as talks between the US and Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program appear to have hit an impasse.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Washington is pulling some of its military personnel from the Middle East as the region could be a dangerous place.