The US State Department is preparing to return diplomats to embassies in the Middle East that were evacuated before and during the war with Iran, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing an internal State Department document. The return of Foreign Service officers and the scaling back of emergency measures at US missions in the region could begin as early as this week, the report said.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the report. The US Department of State could not immediately be reached for comment outside regular business hours. Embassies slated to restore higher staffing levels include those in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait, according to the report. In a statement quoted by the New York Times, the State Department said it “continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world.” “Based on our latest assessment, we are adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East to ensure we can continue advancing US foreign policy objectives while protecting the safety and security of our personnel,” it added. According to the document, the first diplomats to return would be assigned to the US Embassy in Lebanon, although staffing there would remain below full levels. Ultimately, staff would return completely to the US embassies in Israel, Jordan and Oman, the report said. Posts in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would initially be capped at 85 percent staffing, while missions in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain would be limited to 75 percent, according to the document.Read more: