The UK has temporarily withdrawn staff from its embassy in Tehran, as the threat of US strikes against Iran prompts warnings from a number of countries to their citizens in the Middle East.
The UK Foreign Office said it was a “precautionary measure” and that its embassy in Iran’s capital continued to operate remotely.
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Israel told some non-emergency staff and their families on Friday that they could leave the country. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee advised staff who wished to leave to “do so TODAY”, the New York Times reported.
It comes a day after Washington and Tehran held talks widely seen as a last ditch effort to avoid a war over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
A number of other countries including China, India and Canada have told their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible due to the prospect of hostilities.
Huckabee reportedly told embassy staff in an email there was “no need to panic, but for those desiring to leave, it’s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later”.
A statement on the embassy’s website said they “may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available”.
It comes days after the US government ordered all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, following a security review.
Meanwhile, the State Department has announced US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel on Monday, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rubio will discuss “a range of regional priorities” including Iran, a spokesman said.
By Anthony Solly
