Oil giant Chevron has pulled all of its American oil workers from Iraq in response to potential military escalation between the United States and Iran.
The company told CNN on Monday that the move, which followed the drone attack that killed Qassem Soleimani, was a “precautionary measure” and that its American employees and contractors have been evacuated from the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq “for the time being.”
“The safety of our people and facilities is Chevron’s top priority globally,” a spokeswoman said.
While Americans have been removed, local staff will still remain at the facilities and will oversee operations in the region. Citing a threat of retaliation from Iran and its proxies for Soleimani’s death, the U.S. has urged its citizens to leave Iraq.
The move comes the same day that Soleimani’s successor, Gen. Esmail Ghaani, vowed to “rid the region of America” as mourners gathered in the streets of Tehran.
Soleimani, 62, was killed last week in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. A top White House adviser said that the strike against Soleimani prevented the deaths of “hundreds of Americans.”
President Trump said he had a list of 52 Iranian targets, including cultural sites, that might be attacked should Iran retaliate for Soleimani’s death.
