Washington ? The State Department is backing down for now from forcing diplomats to serve in Iraq this summer because enough have volunteered to work in the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and in outlying provinces, officials said Thursday.

Three foreign service officers who signed up for the last of the 48 vacancies have won tentative approval. Once personnel panels give a formal OK, the department will announce it will not need to enforce a plan for the forced assignments, the officials said Thursday.

That word could come as early as today, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced.

But the policy of “directed assignments” could go back into force if the current crop of volunteers does not pan out. “We’re reserving the option,” department spokesman Sean McCormack said. Officials also said the department may have to resort to such a measure in the future.

“We believe we are close to having all the jobs filled by volunteers. We are down to the low single digits, and that is very positive,” McCormack said. “That doesn’t mean the policy has changed.”

Officials had indicated this week that a forced call-up might not be necessary after volunteers cut the number of vacant posts to 11 by Tuesday.