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The United Kingdom withdrew all its staff from Iran "due to security concerns," reported the Foreign Office, which specified that its embassy in Tehran continues to operate remotely.
The decision comes amid a context of heightened regional tension, according to the British Foreign Office itself, which warned that this scenario could result in travel disruptions and "other unforeseen impacts."
According to a report from EFE, London has advised against traveling to Iran under any circumstances and warned that British nationals and British-Iranian dual citizens face a very high risk of arrest, interrogation, or detention.
For those who ignore these warnings, the Foreign Office reminded that travel insurance may become void, that there will be no in-person consular assistance, and that in case of emergency, the British Government “will not be able to help you” if you find yourself in trouble in Iran.
The British announcement coincides with the arrival of the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford on the Israeli coast, as part of the US military deployment in the Middle East in anticipation of a possible attack on Iran, according to the report.
On the same day, the Chinese embassy in Tehran urged its citizens to leave the country "as soon as possible" and offered assistance to relocate them through commercial flights or overland routes.
The United States does not have an embassy in Tehran, but its diplomatic representation in Israel authorized the departure of non-essential government personnel and their families from the country due to "security risks," according to the cited information.
The statement adds that Washington also withdrew its non-essential personnel from Lebanon in the previous days, but not from Iraq or Kuwait, as some media outlets "had incorrectly reported."
More countries warn
China also urged its citizens to leave Iran "as soon as possible" and to avoid traveling to the country amid rising military tensions with the United States and the largest U.S. deployment in the region since the invasion of Iraq.
In a statement released on its website, the Chinese Embassy in Tehran noted that, "given the current security situation in Iran," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions advise Chinese citizens not to travel to the country "for the time being."
It also advises those who are already there to "strengthen their security measures and evacuate as soon as possible."
The diplomatic mission warned that Iran "has recently faced a significant increase in external security risks."
In this regard, he assured that the Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and neighboring countries will provide assistance for the relocation of their nationals through commercial flights or land routes.
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