Italy, Germany, Poland, and Spain tell citizens to leave Iran immediately
A growing number of European governments have issued stark warnings urging their citizens to depart Iran immediately and advising against all travel to the country. The coordinated advisories cite extreme security risks and the threat of arbitrary arrest amid the deepening political crisis.
A significant group of European nations, including Italy, Germany, Poland, and Spain, have issued urgent and coordinated travel warnings on Wednesday, advising their citizens to leave Iran without delay. The advisories cite severe security risks, the ongoing violent crackdown on protests, and the threat of arbitrary detention as the primary reasons for the heightened alert.
Unprecedented Warnings from Key EU States
The Italian Foreign Ministry stated that approximately 600 Italian nationals remain in Iran, predominantly in the capital, Tehran. In a formal statement, Rome "strongly reiterates its call on Italian citizens in Iran to leave the country." Similarly, the Spanish Foreign Ministry explicitly advised, "Spaniards currently in Iran are advised to leave the country using available means," while strongly discouraging any new travel. Poland used its official social media channels to issue a comprehensive warning against all travel to the Islamic Republic.
The Specific Threat of Arbitrary Arrest
Beyond the general instability, European embassies are pointing to a tangible and specific legal danger for foreign nationals. The German Embassy in Tehran released a statement explicitly warning its citizens that "there is a risk of arbitrary arrest" in the current climate. This concern is amplified by Iran's practice of detaining dual nationals and foreigners on security-related charges, often to be used as diplomatic leverage, and the recent, highly publicized detention of UN staff members by Houthi authorities.
A Worsening Domestic and Regional Climate
These urgent calls from European capitals reflect a grim assessment that the situation inside Iran is deteriorating and could escalate further. The nationwide protests, now in their third week, show no signs of abating, and the government's response has grown increasingly harsh. Furthermore, the potential for external military intervention, hinted at by the United States, introduces a dangerous regional dimension. European governments are acting to evacuate their citizens before any potential closure of borders or airspace, should a broader confrontation materialize.
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