Foreign Office issues urgent travel warning to UK citizens in new update

The Foreign Office has issued an urgent travel warning to Brits, advising against all travel to Iran following a retaliatory strike by Israel.

The updated advice warns that any UK citizens choosing to visit the Middle Eastern nation could find their insurance invalidated and may not receive assistance from the UK Government if they encounter difficulties, reports the Mirror.

The Foreign Office website - which was updated earlier this morning - states: "If you're a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying."

The site added: "FCDO advises against all travel to Iran. British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arbitrary arrest, questioning or detention in Iran. Holding a British passport can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to question you. If you are detained in Iran, you could face months or years in prison."

The update comes after reports of an Israeli military strike on Iran, with the website noting: "On 13 April 2024 Iran launched an attack against Israel, using UAVs, ballistic and cruise missiles fired from Iran into Israel. We are aware of reports that on 19 April Israel attacked sites in Iran in response."

Israel initiated a strike against Iran in the early hours of Friday, with the specifics of the attack yet to be fully disclosed. Unverified reports of explosions in Isfahan, a central province, have been cited by Iranian state media, and flights over several cities have been suspended, as reported by the BBC.

Iran activated its air defence batteries on Friday morning, and some flights were either rerouted or grounded following reports of explosions near a significant airbase and nuclear site where drones had been sighted, reports the Associated Press.

Earlier this month, Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, firing more than 300 drones and missiles, which was repelled with the assistance of the UK and US. The strike led to the closure of airspace in several countries and has caused long-term disruption to certain flight paths.

The UK Foreign Office has not updated its travel advice for Israel today, but continues to advise against travel to certain parts of the country.

However, it recently revised its advice for those travelling to Egypt, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Middle East for Brits. Egypt shares a border with Palestine.

Cairo, Sharm el Sheikh and Alexandria are located in the same region as the contentious Raffa Crossing.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a travel warning for Brits planning to visit Egypt. The FCDO advises against all travel to certain parts of the country, including within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border, with the exception of the town of El Salloum, and the Governorate of North Sinai.

Additionally, it recommends avoiding all but essential travel to the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions, except for specific areas which can be verified online.

The FCDO also warns that the land border into Israel from Egypt at Taba could shut without much notice. It suggests checking with local authorities and referring to the travel advice for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories before attempting to cross the border.

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