Over 15 Countries Urge Citizens to Leave Iran Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

Tensions in the Middle East have reached a new peak. On Saturday, February 28, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced a military operation targeting several nuclear facilities in Iran. Following this, more than 15 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and India, have instructed their citizens to leave Iran immediately.

The crisis comes after five rounds of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Geneva ended without agreement. In an urgent statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the attacks and declared a “special and permanent state of emergency” across the country.

The escalation began last Friday when U.S. President Donald Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with the ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Iran. The five rounds of talks, which began on February 6, failed to reach consensus on Tehran’s uranium stockpile and missile program. Following these setbacks, the Trump administration signaled that military action could be imminent if diplomacy fails.

Since mid-January, the United States and Israel had deployed a large number of warships, aircraft carriers, and advanced fighter jets to the Middle East, completing their military preparations. Diplomatic sources indicated that while minor issues saw some agreement, Iran refused to compromise on core disputes, pushing the Trump administration toward a hardline stance.

Currently, the Israeli defense forces are on the highest alert to counter potential retaliatory attacks. At the same time, countries including Germany, Canada, Italy, and Australia have advised their embassy staff and citizens to leave Iran as quickly as possible, either by commercial flights or alternative routes. The warnings emphasize that air and land travel could be suspended at any moment.

The situation has created significant instability in Middle Eastern airspace, forcing several countries to alter passenger flight routes. U.S. officials have repeatedly suggested that, if necessary, the United States may directly participate in operations to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities. International concern is growing, with the United Nations and other global organizations urging restraint from both sides. However, according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the main challenge now is preventing the escalation of war following the initiation of the attacks.