Amid mass protests, thousands of deaths and statements about a possible use of force, Ukraine is temporarily closing its embassy in Iran. The Foreign Ministry is urging citizens to exercise caution and issuing recommendations. Find out what is happening in Iran and what steps diplomats are advising Ukrainians to take
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Ukraine is temporarily suspending the work of its embassy in Iran due to a sharp deterioration in the security situation. The diplomatic mission announced this on Friday, 16 January 2026, emphasising that the decision was made against the backdrop of growing instability and risks to citizens.
The embassy noted that information about the resumption of work, as well as further steps for Ukrainians, will be provided through official channels. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine had previously recommended that Ukrainian citizens leave Iran until the situation stabilises.
Appeal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Ukrainians
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Ukrainians who remain in Iran to strictly follow the instructions of local authorities, avoid any conflicts with police and security forces, and exercise extreme caution.
Diplomats emphasise that in a rapidly changing situation, it is important to follow official reports and not expose oneself to additional risk.
Protests that have spread to many cities
The escalation of the situation is linked to large-scale anti-government protests that have been ongoing in Iran since the end of 2025. They initially broke out in Tehran among entrepreneurs dissatisfied with the economic crisis, the sharp fall in the Iranian rial and rising prices. By the end of 2025, Iran’s national currency had lost almost half of its value against the US dollar, and inflation reached 42.5% in December.
Subsequently, the protest movement spread to other regions of the country. Cities that were previously considered loyal to the current government joined the protests, including Qom in central Iran and Mashhad in the northeast.
On 10 January, the heir to the Pahlavi dynasty, Reza Pahlavi, who has lived in the United States since 1979, publicly called on Iranians to move to a new level of confrontation and gradually capture cities.
Against the backdrop of the escalating situation, US President Donald Trump said that Washington was considering ‘very tough’ options for action against Iran. According to him, the use of military force cannot be ruled out. On the same day, he appealed to Iranians to continue their protests and seize government institutions, saying that help was ‘already on the way.’
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What is happening in Iran now?
On 13 January, Reuters, citing an Iranian official, reported that about 2,000 people, including security forces, had been killed during anti-government protests. At the same time, the Iranian opposition TV channel Iran International claims that the death toll could be as high as 12,000.
According to The Washington Post, based on information from its sources, the US administration has asked European countries to share intelligence on possible targets in Iran.
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