The United Kingdom has temporarily shut its embassy in Tehran, withdrawing all British diplomatic staff due to what it described as a rapidly deteriorating security situation.
Confirming the decision on Wednesday, the UK Foreign Office said the embassy would now operate remotely. “We have temporarily closed the British Embassy in Tehran. British staff have been withdrawn due to the security situation,” the statement said, stressing that the safety of personnel was the top priority.
A UK official, speaking anonymously, said the decision followed a fresh risk assessment as protests intensified across Iran and regional tensions escalated.
The British government has also updated its official travel advice for Iran to reflect the closure of consular services in the country. Citizens have been urged to closely monitor developments and exercise extreme caution.
The move comes against the backdrop of mounting fears that the United States could take military action against Iran. Reports suggest US President Donald Trump is weighing possible strikes, raising alarm across the region.
Earlier, the US began evacuating some personnel from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, its largest military facility in the Middle East, and reportedly relocated aircraft as a precautionary measure.
Diplomatic relations have also been under pressure. Britain’s envoy to Iran was recently summoned, along with other European diplomats, for a tense meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. In response, the UK summoned Iran’s ambassador to London for discussions.
Despite the tensions, Araghchi struck a conciliatory tone in a separate media interaction, stating that Iran remained open to dialogue. “Diplomacy is much better than war,” he said, adding that Iran was ready for negotiations.
At the same time, Araghchi blamed what he described as “terrorist groups” for the ongoing unrest in Iran, alleging that it was part of an Israeli plot to draw Washington into a wider conflict.
The temporary closure of the British embassy underscores growing international concern over Iran’s internal stability and the risk of further escalation in an already volatile region.
