Thailand to evacuate its citizens in Iran via Turkey

Thailand will evacuate its citizens in Iran due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. In a statement issued by the Thai Embassy in Tehran, it was noted that security conditions have worsened rapidly following the attacks by Israel and the US on Iran on February 28, and that the evacuation process will be carried out via Turkey.

The statement conveyed that the Thai government and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul are closely monitoring the situation and that instructions have been given to evacuate Thai nationals in Iran as soon as possible.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that there are more than 100 thousand Thai citizens in the region, adding that the government's priority is to transport all Thai citizens in Iran to safe areas and then bring them back to their home country.

Noting that embassies in the region are working in coordination with host countries to establish safe zones, Sihasak stated that citizens in high-risk areas will be moved to safer locations.

It was reported that the majority of the approximately 65 thousand Thai citizens living in Israel trust the current security measures and prefer to remain where they are.

Sihasak stated that the current crisis, unlike the Israel-Iran tensions in 2024, has spread to a much wider geography, noting that the affected regions extend beyond Iran and Israel to include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and Southern Cyprus, which he said complicates security and evacuation processes.

On the other hand, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied reports that an Indo-Pacific agreement had been signed allowing the US to use Thailand as a military base.