Italy and Spain Advise Citizens to Evacuate
France Withdraws Some Embassy Staff on January 12
German Airlines Divert Flights from Iranian Airspace
The United Kingdom has temporarily closed its embassy in Iran as the government continues its hardline crackdown on anti-government protests. European countries are also advising their citizens to leave Iran due to concerns over their safety.
According to foreign media reports, including Reuters, on January 14 (local time), the British government announced the temporary closure of its embassy in Tehran, Iran. As a result, the British ambassador and all staff have withdrawn. Instead, the embassy will be operated remotely.
Italy and Spain have each urged their citizens residing in Iran to evacuate immediately. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "More than 900 Italian troops are stationed in the Middle East," and added, "Measures are being implemented to protect military personnel."
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel warning for Iran, advising, "Spanish nationals in Iran are recommended to leave using any available means."
On January 12, the French Embassy withdrew non-essential personnel from its embassy in Tehran, Iran. In the case of Germany, the government has issued warning guidelines to its airlines regarding entry into Iranian airspace.
German airline Lufthansa announced, "Until next Monday, flights to Tel Aviv, Israel, and Amman, Jordan, will operate only during the day, and as a result, some flights may be canceled."
Meanwhile, the U.S. military government has issued orders to withdraw some troops from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. base in the Middle East. This has led to speculation that the United States may be increasingly likely to intervene militarily in Iran.
However, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, analysts believe the likelihood of military action against Iran has diminished. During a signing ceremony at the White House, President Trump stated, "We have heard that the killings in Iran have stopped," and added, "There are no execution plans, neither one nor several." Reuters noted that this suggests the U.S. is taking a wait-and-see approach to the current crisis.
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