The UK government has withdrawn its staff from Iran, as the US advises embassy officials in Israel they can leave while \u201ccommercial flights are available\u201d.<\/p>\n
The British government said on Friday the temporary precautionary measure had been taken due to the ongoing security situation in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, US ambassador to Israel<\/a><\/strong> Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that a decision had been made to authorise departures for non-essential personnel and their families who wished to leave.<\/p>\n Mr Huckabee said in the email that staff who wish to leave should do so that day, adding “there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be”.<\/p>\n “Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,” the US embassy said.<\/p>\n The travel warnings are one of the strongest indications yet that a regional conflict could be imminent, as the threat of US military strikes on Iran<\/a><\/strong> looms.<\/p>\n They come just a day after talks between the US and Iran over its nuclear programme ended without an agreement<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n In a travel advice update on Friday, Britain’s foreign office said the temporary and precautionary measure had been taken because of the “ongoing security situation” in the region.<\/p>\n “We have temporarily closed the British Embassy in Tehran, this will now operate remotely,” a government spokesperson said.<\/p>\n “Foreign Office travel advice has now been updated to reflect this change.”<\/p>\n The UK does not appear to have withdrawn any staff from Israel, but continues to advise against travel to parts of the country over security concerns.<\/p>\n It was also revealed on Friday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel early next week to “discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza”.<\/p>\n The announcement suggested a longer timeframe for US any military action.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Tap here to follow The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim wherever you get your podcasts \ud83d\udc48<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Donald Trump set \u200bout his case for a possible attack on \u200bIran in \u2060his State \u2060of the Union speech on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Read more: The US president said while he preferred a diplomatic \u200csolution, he would not allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n Mr Trump has previously threatened to take military action against Iran if a deal is not reached.<\/p>\n The US has spent the last month amassing a fleet of aircraft and warships in the region.<\/p>\n Iran has in turn threatened to attack Israel, raising the risk that military action could trigger another regional war.<\/p>\n
\n US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Pic: AP
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\n Allow Cookies Once<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/26\/02\/768x432\/skynews-iran-tehran_7176883.jpg?20260227151628\")
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\n The treat of US strikes looms over Iran. Pic: AP
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‘Significant progress’ in US-Iran talks – but no deal<\/a>
‘It’s tense here’: Jerusalem braces for prospect of war<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n