South Korea and India have issued urgent advisories urging their citizens to depart Iran immediately, citing escalating regional tensions and fears of a potential US military strike amid ongoing nuclear negotiations.
The warnings, issued over the weekend of February 22-23, 2026, reflect growing international concern over the standoff between Washington and Tehran. This comes as the United States has significantly bolstered its military presence in the Middle East, deploying major naval assets and additional forces while President Donald Trump has set a tight deadline for diplomatic progress.
On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the South Korean Embassy in Iran posted a safety notice on its official website. The embassy warned that the security situation could "deteriorate rapidly" due to "rapidly escalating regional tensions," explicitly referencing media reports about the possibility of a US attack on Iran and Tehran's threats of retaliation. South Korean nationals currently in Iran were advised to leave "as soon as possible" unless their presence was essential for critical reasons. The embassy further recommended that those planning travel to Iran cancel or postpone trips. It emphasized monitoring local media, embassy updates, and taking extra personal safety precautions. South Korea maintains a Level 3 (red alert) travel warning for all of Iran, strongly urging departure, with notes that civilian flights could be suspended if conditions worsen sharply.
In a parallel move, the Indian Embassy in Tehran issued an advisory on Monday, February 23, 2026, via its official channels, including a post on X (formerly Twitter). The embassy urged all Indian nationals in Iran—including students, pilgrims, businesspersons, and tourists—to leave "by available means of transport, including commercial flights." Citizens were instructed to keep passports, IDs, and other travel documents readily available and to contact the embassy for assistance if needed. Emergency contact numbers were provided. The notice reiterated earlier advisories from January 2026, calling for due caution, avoidance of protest areas or demonstrations, staying in touch with the embassy, and monitoring local media developments. India's Ministry of External Affairs estimates around 10,000 Indian citizens are typically in Iran.
These advisories align with broader international precautions. Several other countries, including Sweden, Serbia, Poland, and Australia, have similarly urged their nationals to leave Iran. The United States itself has ordered nonessential diplomatic staff and families to depart neighboring Lebanon amid the heightened risks.
The advisories are set against a backdrop of intensified US military deployments in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, including guided-missile destroyers, has been operating in the Arabian Sea since late January 2026, after redirection from other theaters. Additional fighter jets and support assets have arrived. The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by destroyers and over 5,000 personnel, is en route or has recently transited toward the Middle East, potentially via the Mediterranean after crossing from the Caribbean. This buildup represents one of the largest US force concentrations in the region in decades, comparable to pre-2003 Iraq invasion levels, with capabilities for sustained operations if ordered.
President Trump has escalated pressure through public statements. On Thursday (likely February 19, 2026), he indicated Iran had a 10- to 15-day window—described as "pretty much the maximum"—to reach a "meaningful" or "serious" nuclear agreement, warning that failure would lead to military options. He reiterated this on Friday, noting he was considering a more limited strike to compel Tehran toward a deal. Trump emphasized that "bad things" or "unfortunate" consequences would follow without progress, while leaving room for diplomacy if Iran offered verifiable concessions.
Despite the threats, negotiations continue. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi confirmed on Sunday, February 22, 2026, that a new round of indirect US-Iran nuclear talks would occur in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday (February 26, 2026). This follows prior rounds in Oman (early February) and Geneva (mid-February), mediated by Oman. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian, have described "encouraging signals" and "good progress" on guiding principles, while insisting on a "win-win" outcome that addresses sanctions relief and nuclear concerns without full capitulation. Iran has ruled out interim deals, seeking comprehensive results, and maintains readiness to defend against aggression. Tehran has threatened "ferocious" retaliation to any strike, potentially targeting regional US bases or interests.
The tensions coincide with internal unrest in Iran, including renewed anti-government protests among students and others, which have prompted additional caution in embassy advisories about avoiding demonstration sites.
These developments highlight the precarious balance between diplomacy and escalation. While talks in Geneva offer a pathway to de-escalation—potentially reducing Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief—the military posturing and short timeline increase risks of miscalculation. South Korea and India's citizen evacuation warnings serve as a stark indicator of how seriously allied and partner nations view the current threat environment, prioritizing the safety of their nationals in a volatile region.
