UK Foreign Office issues urgent Middle East travel update - 'significant risk' posed to British nationals

UK Foreign Office issues urgent Middle East travel update - 'significant risk' posed to British nationals "Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you," the FCDO said in its latest guidance on Iran The UK has withdrawn its remaining diplomatic staff from Iran as the conflict in the Middle East appears to be escalating. The US has carried out its 12th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran in the latest round of fighting between the two nations. A statement issued by the UK's Foreign Office (FCDO) on Wednesday, July 22 reads: " Due to the security situation, UK staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran." The UK embassy continues to operate remotely. The FCDO has also advised against all travel to Iran. "If you are a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying," the statement continued. "British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you." The region has been subject to instability since the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on February 28. Iran retaliated by striking sites across the region and closing the Strait of Hormuz waterway. On June 17, the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring the war to a close within 60 days. Washington and Tehran were working towards securing a lasting peace agreement to bring the conflict to an end, restore international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and seek to settle an ongoing dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme. But both sides have failed to achieve lasting peace, with attacks resuming this month. Also on Wednesday, the US and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark deal that will reportedly allow the kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear programme. The US energy department has described the deal as a "peaceful nuclear co-operation agreement" that will provide "great access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy program". The deal could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium in the future, according to US media. This could be used as fuel for power plants and to make nuclear bombs. US President Donald Trump has long said his country's war in Iran is to prevent the Middle Eastern nation from developing such weapons.