The United Kingdom has temporarily withdrawn staff from its embassy in Tehran amid rising tensions over the prospect of US military strikes against Iran, prompting several countries to warn their citizens in the Middle East.
The UK Foreign Office described the move as a “precautionary measure,” adding that the embassy in Iran’s capital would continue to operate remotely. It also updated its travel advisory, urging against “all but essential travel” to Israel.
Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Israel told some non-emergency staff and their families on Friday that they could leave the country.
The developments come a day after officials from United States and Iran held talks widely seen as a last-ditch effort to avert conflict over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Several other countries, including China, India and Canada, have advised their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible due to the risk of hostilities.
President Donald Trump has threatened military action if Tehran fails to reach an agreement on its nuclear ambitions. He has ordered what officials describe as the largest US military build-up in the region since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, while Iran has vowed to respond forcefully to any attack.
On Friday, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee advised embassy staff who wished to leave Israel to “do so as soon as possible.”
In an email, he reportedly said there was “no need to panic,” but stressed that those intending to depart should make arrangements “sooner rather than later.” A statement on the embassy’s website added that staff “may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available.”
The move followed a recent decision by the US government to order all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in Beirut after a security review.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of State announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to a department spokesperson, Rubio was expected to discuss “a range of regional priorities,” including Iran.
BBC/Taiwo Akinola
