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UK withdraws embassy personnel from Iran amid rising tensions
The United Kingdom has temporarily removed its diplomatic staff from its embassy in Tehran, citing precautionary measures as regional tensions between the United States and Iran intensify. The Foreign Office confirmed the move on Friday, stating that the embassy would continue to function remotely.
US advises non-emergency staff to leave Israel
In parallel, the US embassy in Israel instructed some non-essential personnel and their families that they could depart the country. According to a report by the New York Times, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged staff wishing to leave to do so immediately, stating in an email that there was "no need to panic, but for those desiring to leave, it's important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later."
The embassy's website also advised that individuals "may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available."
Global warnings and diplomatic efforts
The withdrawals follow heightened alerts from multiple governments. China, India, and Canada have all urged their citizens to leave Iran promptly due to the risk of escalating hostilities. The developments come a day after indirect talks in Geneva between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Oman, were described as making "significant progress" toward averting conflict over Iran's nuclear program.
Iran's government hailed the discussions as showing "good progress," though the US has yet to issue an official response. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel on Monday for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where Iran's nuclear ambitions are expected to dominate the agenda.
Military buildup and threats of action
The US and its allies accuse Iran of advancing toward nuclear weapons development, a claim Tehran has consistently denied. President Donald Trump has warned of military action if Iran fails to reach a diplomatic agreement on its nuclear program, deploying the largest US military force to the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Iran has pledged to respond forcefully to any attack. The US has reinforced its presence in the region with thousands of troops, two aircraft carriers, additional warships, fighter jets, and refueling aircraft. Trump stated on February 19 that the world would know within 10 days whether a deal would be reached or military action taken, emphasizing, "We have to make a meaningful deal otherwise bad things happen."
US signals caution amid diplomatic push
Despite the military buildup, Vice-President JD Vance told the Washington Post on Thursday that while strikes remained under consideration, the US had "no chance" of being drawn into a prolonged conflict. "I think we all prefer the diplomatic option," Vance said. "But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say."
Earlier this week, the US also ordered all non-essential staff to leave its embassy in Beirut following a security review, underscoring the broader regional unease.
