The UK has withdrawn remaining diplomatic staff from Iran as the conflict with the US continued to escalate with a 12th night of airstrikes.
A statement on the Foreign Office (FCDO) website said: “Due to the security situation, UK staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely.”
Travel advice and previous withdrawal
The FCDO advises against all travel to Iran, saying British and dual British-Iranian residents face “significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention”. A similar move was made in February ahead of the start of US and Israel combat operations.
US airstrikes and warnings
US Central Command said late on Wednesday that a 12th night of attacks were designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters”. US President Donald Trump had warned earlier that one bridge or power plant would be destroyed for each ship shot at by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” Mr Trump wrote on social media.
Iran’s response
Foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi also said an “eye for an eye” approach would be adopted by Iran. “Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,” he posted on X on Wednesday.
The 11th night of strikes on Iran into Wednesday saw air defences opening fire over the capital Tehran. Iran launched a missile attack on a Jordanian city while alerts were sounded in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Impact on regional infrastructure
Iran has responded to US attacks by targeting energy infrastructure and desalination plants which provide drinking water in neighbouring Gulf countries. International law generally prohibits such attacks unless the infrastructure is being used for military purposes.
