Growing security concerns in Iran have forced Britain to temporarily withdraw its remaining diplomatic staff from the country as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to rise.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced on Thursday that embassy personnel had been withdrawn, although the mission would continue operating remotely.
“Due to the security situation, UK staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely”, the Foreign Office said on its website.
The decision follows Britain’s earlier withdrawal of embassy staff in June, alongside several European nations, Australia and New Zealand, amid escalating regional tensions.
The diplomatic pullback came after Israel launched fresh air strikes on Iran, accusing Tehran of being close to developing a nuclear weapon, an allegation Iran has repeatedly rejected.
The FCDO did not reveal the number of personnel affected but maintained its advisory against all travel to Iran, urging British nationals already in the country to reconsider their stay due to the risks involved.
The move comes as concerns grow over the treatment of foreign nationals in Iran, including British couple Craig Foreman and his wife Lindsay, who were detained while travelling through the country during a round-the-world motorcycle trip in early 2025.
The couple are serving 10-year prison sentences for alleged espionage, charges they deny, while their family says Craig Foreman was handed an additional two years after speaking to the media.
