Serbia and Sweden urge citizens to leave Iran amid strike threats
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Serbia and Sweden have issued urgent advisories for their citizens to depart Iran immediately as regional tensions escalate.
This follows statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who confirmed he is considering a limited military strike against the Islamic Republic if negotiations regarding its nuclear program fail to produce a satisfactory deal.
The Serbian Foreign Ministry published a warning overnight Friday, citing a deteriorating security situation. Belgrade recommended that its nationals avoid all travel to the country and advised those currently there to leave as soon as possible. This is the second such warning from Serbia this year, following a mid-January advisory linked to the clerical government's violent suppression of mass protests.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard echoed these concerns on social media. She issued a strong appeal for Swedish citizens to exit Iran while commercial options remain available.
The heightened warnings coincide with a significant U.S. naval buildup in the Middle East intended to pressure Tehran. While Iranian officials expressed hope on Friday for a quick diplomatic resolution, President Trump told reporters at the White House that he is weighing military options. He has previously set a deadline of 10 to 15 days for a meaningful agreement to be reached.
Beyond nuclear concerns, the security climate has been further strained by domestic unrest. President Trump recently referenced the crackdown on Iranian protesters, claiming that the threat of U.S. strikes had already influenced the Iranian leadership to halt planned mass executions. Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a draft counterproposal for the nuclear talks could be ready within days.