India Warns Its Citizens Against Travel to Iran and Israel

Amid global concerns over a potential imminent attack by the Islamic Republic of Iran on Israel, India's Ministry of External Affairs on Friday, April 12, advised Indian citizens not to travel to Iran or Israel for the time being. The ministry also urged all Indian citizens currently residing in Iran or Israel to exercise utmost caution regarding their safety and to minimize their movements while contacting the Indian embassy in these countries. Previously, the United States, France, Britain, Canada, and Australia had issued travel warnings for Israel, the West Bank, Iran, and Lebanon. On Thursday, April 11, the United States announced that in light of threats from the Islamic Republic for retaliatory attacks on Israel, it had asked its employees in the country and their family members to refrain from personal travel outside of the Tel Aviv area (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Judea), Jerusalem, and Beersheba. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also advised its citizens on Friday, April 12, to avoid travel to Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories amid threats from the Islamic Republic against its regional adversary, Israel. In a statement on the social media platform 'X', the ministry noted that the families of diplomats stationed in Iran would return to France, and French government employees were prohibited from undertaking any missions in Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. During an attack attributed to Israel on the Islamic Republic's consulate in Damascus on April 1, six senior commanders of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed. Since then, the leader and other officials of the Islamic Republic have threatened retaliatory attacks on Israel. Simultaneously, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to de-escalate and has conveyed through various countries to Tehran that escalating tensions is not in the interest of any country, including Iran itself. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated at a press conference on Thursday, April 11, that these messages were communicated to Tehran through Blinken's phone calls with the foreign ministers of China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey over the past 24 hours. The White House spokesperson emphasized that the U.S. does not want to see conflicts in the region escalate, stating, 'We warned Iran not to use this attack as a pretext for further escalating tensions in the region or attacking U.S. facilities or personnel.' Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, added, 'We have communicated our position very clearly to Iran. We have stated unequivocally that we support Israel's security. There has been no change in our position.' Netanyahu, while emphasizing the continuation of the war in Gaza, stated that he would respond to any attack with an attack. CBS News reported that the Iranian government may attack Israel on Friday with over 100 drones and dozens of missiles. Blog: Israel warns the people of Lebanon: We will respond with full force to the continued escalation of tensions by Hezbollah. Paris advises: French citizens should avoid travel to Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. The Wall Street Journal: Israel is preparing for a direct attack on Iran within the next 24 to 48 hours.