The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged the public to avoid nonessential travel to parts of the Middle East amid escalating tensions, adding that Iran remains under its highest-level “red” travel alert.
Taiwan has also issued an “red” alert for Israel, and a “red” alert for areas along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Travel advisories would be adjusted in line with the latest developments, the ministry said.
Photo: Reuters
Reuters reported that unrest has intensified in Iran following a crackdown on civil protests and military action over Tehran’s nuclear activities.
The ministry said in a statement that four Taiwanese are in Iran and are safe, citing information from the Taiwan Trade Center in Tehran and the Taipei Commercial Office in Dubai.
About 260 Taiwanese are in Israel, it said.
The ministry said it has instructed its overseas offices to maintain contact with Taiwanese in affected areas and to remind them to remain vigilant.
Given geopolitical uncertainty in the region, the ministry urged the public to carefully assess the necessity of travel to high-risk destinations.
Taiwanese in Israel can contact the Taipei Representative Office in Tel Aviv via its emergency hotline at +972-544-275-204. Those in Iran can call the Taipei Commercial Office in Dubai at +971-506-453-018 or the ministry’s 24-hour toll-free hotline in Taipei at 0800-085-095.
Under the ministry’s four-tier travel alert system, advisories are classified as “gray,” “yellow,” “orange” and “red,” in ascending order of risk.
In a Facebook post yesterday evening, President William Lai (賴清德) said his national security team had briefed him on the latest developments as tensions grow across the Middle East in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran that day.
The government has activated relevant response mechanisms to ensure the safety of Taiwanese nationals in the region, and is maintaining close communication with like-minded countries and global partners, he said.
The government will assess the potential impact across various sectors — particularly fluctuations in international commodity and energy prices — evaluate the effects on Taiwan's economy, financial stability and people's livelihoods, and respond with prudence, he added.
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