Hundreds of U.S. diplomats stuck in limbo months after Middle East evacuations

NPR | By Michele Kelemen

Published August 15, 2026 at 7:40 AM EDT

Hundreds of U.S. diplomats remain in limbo, months after they were evacuated from the Middle East, as the war with Iran drags on.

Michele Kelemen

A former NPR Moscow bureau chief, Michele Kelemen now covers the State Department. Her reports can be heard on all NPR News programs — from Morning Edition to All Things Considered.

See stories by Michele Kelemen

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