New Zealanders warned to leave Iran as soon as possible if they can
The New Zealand government has issued a travel advisory urging citizens to leave Iran and avoid transiting through the Middle East due to rising regional tensions. The warning follows threats of military strikes and potential airspace closures.
Why it matters
Heightened geopolitical instability in the Middle East poses direct safety risks to international travelers and requires government intervention.
The government is again warning New Zealanders not to transit through the Middle East as Donald Trump threatens further military strikes on Iran .
The US President on Wednesday said that the United States would bomb Iranian civil infrastructure every time Tehran fires at ships in the Hormuz Strait.
A Safe Travel advisory issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) said it advises against all non-essential transit travel through the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
"The security situation in the Middle East remains highly volatile and travellers could be stranded with little warning and few options.
"Given this, we advise New Zealanders not to transit the Middle East, including through Dubai or Doha, unless their travel is absolutely essential and there are no other flight routes available through Asia or North America."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in