Middle East crisis Tensions Iran-US

Several countries urge people to leave Israel and Iran

Several countries are stepping up their warnings and urging their citizens to leave Israel and Iran, several media outlets report. The background is the US threat to attack Iran if the nuclear energy negotiations fail – and Iran's threat of counterattacks on US allies, according to TT.

The US and Germany are urging all their citizens to leave Israel as soon as possible, according to The Guardian and AFP. China is urging its citizens to leave Iran, and those in Israel to strengthen their preparedness and avoid going out, according to AFP.

Britain has recalled all its consular staff from Iran, writes Reuters.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry remains at the same level as before for both countries: an advice against all travel to Iran, to the border areas in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.

Trump: Would have preferred not to attack Iran – but sometimes you have to

US President Donald Trump says he “would have preferred not” to attack Iran, CNBC reports.

– But sometimes you have to, he tells reporters outside the White House, according to the television channel.

Trump has not yet made a final decision, but is “not very happy” with how Iran is negotiating with the US about the country’s nuclear energy program, he says, according to the AP. The talks are expected to continue on Friday.

The president also has time to air the idea of ​​a “friendly takeover” of Cuba before boarding a helicopter to Texas, Reuters writes.