Ankara: The UK has temporarily withdrawn its diplomatic staff from Iran due to the current security situation while continuing to advise British citizens against traveling to the country, as per the updated government travel advice issued on Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced, "Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely." The FCDO further reiterated its advisory against all travel to Iran, urging British nationals already present in the country to carefully consider their safety and whether they should remain.

The official statement emphasized the high risk of arrest, detention, and questioning faced by British and dual British-Iranian nationals. The FCDO cautioned that holding a British passport or having perceived connections to the UK could be sufficient grounds for Iranian authorities to detain individuals.

In addition, the statement highlighted that the security situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable, pointing out that strikes and retaliatory attacks since July 8 have heightened the risk of further escalation. The advisory urged British nationals in the region to be prepared for potential travel disruptions, including flight cancellations and airspace closures.

The FCDO also noted that UK government support in Iran is extremely limited, and no face-to-face consular assistance would be possible in an emergency, underlining the seriousness of the current security concerns in the region.