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Pre-war preparations in the Middle East: Which countries are asking their citizens to evacuate Iran

The situation in the Middle East is on a tightrope after Donald Trump's statements yesterday and while a meeting of Washington and Tehran delegations is scheduled to take place in Geneva on Thursday

Newsroom February 25 03:39

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The number of countries formally urging their citizens to leave Iran immediately has risen in recent days, as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify and the United States increases its military presence in the Middle East.

The warnings, which continued this week, come as diplomats and mediators prepare a last-ditch effort to defuse the escalating crisis over Iran’s nuclear program. A third round of indirect talks between American and Iranian officials is scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, although leaks from Washington have again offered little hope for a breakthrough.

U.S. President Donald Trump adopted a confrontational tone toward Iran during his State of the Union address, accusing Tehran of attempting to revive its nuclear program, which he said had been severely damaged by U.S. strikes last year during the so-called “12-day war.” He also claimed that Iran possesses missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, without providing evidence. At the same time, he said he preferred a diplomatic solution.

Iran has repeatedly rejected Washington’s demand for zero nuclear enrichment and considers its missile program a “red line” that is not open to negotiation.

Over the past month, the U.S. military has significantly expanded its presence in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, including deploying two of its largest aircraft carriers, the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald Ford.

Below is a list of countries advising their citizens to leave Iran:

Australia
On Wednesday, the government urged its citizens to leave Iran “as soon as possible” amid concerns over a potential U.S. attack.

“Regional tensions remain high, and there is a risk of military conflict,” it said, advising against travel to Iran due to the risk of arbitrary detention and the volatile security situation.

Australia’s Foreign Ministry has also instructed family members of its officials to leave Lebanon and Israel and has offered voluntary departures from Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Germany
“The security situation in Iran and across the region is extremely volatile and highly tense. Further escalation and military clashes cannot be ruled out,” the German embassy said on Friday.

It added that additional restrictions on air traffic, including flight cancellations and airspace closures, could occur at any time.

India
New Delhi said on Monday that all citizens — including students, pilgrims, and businesspeople — should “exercise due caution” and leave Iran using available means.

Poland
Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged Poles in Iran to “leave immediately and under no circumstances travel to that country.”

“I don’t want to alarm anyone, but we all know what I am referring to. The possibility of conflict is very real,” he said on Thursday, warning that evacuation might become impossible if the situation deteriorates.

Serbia
On Saturday, Serbia’s Foreign Ministry advised citizens not to travel to Iran “in the near future” and urged those already there to leave immediately.

South Korea
In a security notice posted by South Korea’s embassy in Iran, officials warned of “rapidly escalating regional tensions,” citing the possibility of a U.S. attack and Tehran’s threats of retaliation.

They called on citizens to leave “as soon as possible” and urged those planning travel to cancel or postpone their trips.

Sweden
“The situation in Iran and the region is extremely uncertain,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said in a statement on Saturday.

She stressed the importance of the Foreign Ministry’s advisory against all travel to Iran and urged Swedish citizens in the country to leave immediately.

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United States
According to a senior State Department official, Washington has ordered all non-essential personnel to withdraw from its embassy in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital.

“We are constantly assessing the security environment and, based on our latest review, have deemed it prudent to reduce our presence to essential personnel only,” the official told Al Jazeera.

“The embassy remains operational with key staff in place. This is a temporary measure to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist American citizens.”

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