Britain has temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated all diplomatic staff as protests continue to spread across Iran, citing mounting security concerns and operational risks.
The British government confirmed on Wednesday that the embassy has been shut on a temporary basis, while official travel advice for Iran has been updated to reflect changes to consular services.
The closure has been in effect since the night of 14 January and is now formally included in the UK Foreign Office’s Iran travel guidance, which was last revised earlier this month.
According to the updated advisory, embassy personnel have been withdrawn from Iran for security reasons. Diplomatic and consular services will continue to be provided remotely, despite the physical closure of the mission in Tehran.
The move comes as Iran faces its most serious wave of public unrest in years, with demonstrations that began in late December driven by worsening economic conditions and declining living standards. The protests have prompted heightened international concern over stability and security inside the country.
Tensions have also intensified as the United States and Israel increase political and strategic pressure on Tehran. Statements by American and Israeli officials have pointed to expectations of major political change in Iran, where the current ruling system has been in place since 1979.
Israeli media reports on Wednesday cited assessments suggesting that the US may be preparing to launch military action against Iran in the coming days, describing Washington as closer than ever to a direct strike.
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