Rising tensions in Iran. British Embassy in Tehran, temporarily closed. Several European countries are urging their citizens to leave the country
A photograph of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is set on fire by a protester outside the Iranian embassy in London on January 12, 2026. Illustrative image. PHOTO: Yui Mok / PA Images / Profimedia
Britain's embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed, and several European countries are advising their citizens to leave Iran, amid a worsening security situation and authorities' crackdown on protests. In the same context, the United States has begun withdrawing some of its personnel from military bases in the Middle East, according to Politico, Reuters and AFP.
Britain's embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed and is currently operating remotely, a government spokesman in London told Politico.
“We have temporarily closed the British embassy in Tehran, which will now operate remotely (remote, no). Foreign Office travel advice has been updated to reflect this change at consulate level.”
Italy has strongly renewed its appeal to its citizens to leave Iran due to the security situation in the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement on Wednesday.
There are about 600 Italians in Iran, most of them in the Tehran area, the ministry added.
“There are more than 900 members of the Italian armed forces in the region (Middle East, no), of which approximately 500 are in Iraq and 400 in Kuwait, where precautionary measures are being taken to protect military personnel,” the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, according to Reuters.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani chaired a meeting on Wednesday with a group of Italian ambassadors and representatives of the Ministry of Defense and intelligence services. “In this context, Italy's firm position of condemning the violent repression of demonstrations and serious violations of human rights has been reaffirmed,” the ministry said.
And in Spain, the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday advised Spanish citizens to leave Iran, amid an authorities crackdown on large-scale protests that rights groups say have left hundreds dead and thousands arrested.
“Spaniards in Iran are advised to leave the country using the available means,” the ministry said in an updated travel warning.
“The situation is unstable throughout the country. Various sources report several deaths and arrests among the protesters,” the statement added.
Polish citizens must leave Iran immediately, the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw said on Wednesday.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges citizens to leave Iran immediately and warns against any travel to this country,” reads a post on X.
In Romania, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Țoiu, convened a coordination meeting with the MAE team on Wednesday, in the context of security developments in Iran. The Ministry recommended the Romanians in this country “to leave it immediately, by any existing safe route”.
Amid rising tensions in the region, the United States has begun withdrawing some personnel from military bases in the Middle East, a US official told Reuters on Wednesday, after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighboring countries that it would strike US bases in the region if Washington launched an attack.
