The United Kingdom announced on January 14 the temporary closure of its embassy in Tehran, shifting operations to remote work and updating travel advisories accordingly.
Iranian protests began on January 1 and escalated into violent clashes with police, resulting in a death toll that rose to 538 by early January—490 protesters and 48 security personnel. Iranian authorities claim they have regained control of the situation, though foreign ambassadors from Germany, the United Kingdom, and France were summoned to Tehran’s foreign ministry.
Iranian President Masoud Peseshkian called on Iranians to express disagreement with opponents of state policy, warning that instigators could destroy society entirely. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly developed an evacuation plan for Tehran if authorities could not suppress the protests.
The United Kingdom has also begun withdrawing military personnel from key bases in the Middle East amid rising regional tensions and threats of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his country would support protesters if Iranian authorities killed peaceful demonstrators.
