Rising tensions in the Middle East: France calls on its nationals residing in Iran to “temporarily leave the country”

France fears a military escalation between Iran and its allies on the one hand and Israel on the other. EPA – WAEL HAMZEH

This Sunday, August 4, 2024, France recommended that its nationals residing in Iran leave the country if they could.

France recommends this Sunday that its nationals residing in Iran, “to temporarily leave the country”if they can, considering that there is a risk of closure of Iranian airspace and airports in a context of extremely high tensions with Israel.

“We once again call on our nationals to exercise the greatest caution in their travels, to avoid any gatherings and to keep themselves informed of current events and possible messages or instructions from the French Embassy in Iran in the coming days”, according to an updated travel advice published on Sunday.

French nationals invited to leave the Lebanon

France, like the United States in particular, fears a military escalation between Iran and its allies on the one hand and Israel on the other, after the death on Wednesday of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh attributed to the Israelis, after a strike claimed by Israel which killed the military leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement Fouad Chokr, near Beirut on Tuesday evening.

On Friday, it had already called on French nationals passing through “who are still in Iran” to leave the country “at the earliest early".

Paris, which also called on its nationals on Sunday to leave Lebanon "as soon as possible", has therefore stepped up a new notch in its instructions to the French in the region.