British Embassy Staff in Iran Evacuated for Security Reasons

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Rodrigo Santos

JAKARTA - Britain has temporarily withdrawn its embassy staff from Iran due to security conditions in the Middle Eastern country.

"Given the security situation, British embassy staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran. Our embassy remains operational remotely," according to a statement from the British Foreign Office (FCO) as reported by Sputnik, Thursday, July 23.

Previously, US President Donald Trump said he would soon launch a massive attack on Mount Pickaxe in Iran, in retaliation for media reports on the alleged transfer of Iranian nuclear centrifuges to an underground complex.

Iran and the US actually signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 to stop the conflict that began on February 28. However, since July 8, US forces have launched several waves of attacks against Iran.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed the attack was a form of retaliation for Iran's actions against commercial vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian forces then retaliated against the US attack by targeting US air bases in a number of Middle Eastern countries. Then, on July 9, Trump said the arms embargo that the US had agreed with Iran was no longer in effect.