The United Kingdom has temporarily withdrawn staff from its embassy in Tehran as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran raise security concerns across the Middle East.

In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said the embassy in Iran’s capital would continue its operations remotely, without providing details on how long the withdrawal would last.

The move comes as several countries issue warnings to their citizens in the region. The US Embassy in Israel has advised some non-essential staff that they may leave the country, according to media reports. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was quoted as urging staff wishing to depart to do so immediately.

The developments follow indirect talks held a day earlier between Washington and Tehran, widely viewed as a last-ditch effort to prevent a military confrontation over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Several other countries, including China, India and Canada, have also urged their nationals to leave Iran as soon as possible amid fears of potential hostilities.

Donald Trump has warned of possible military action if Iran fails to reach a deal on its nuclear activities. He has ordered what officials describe as the largest US military build-up in the Middle East since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Iranian authorities, meanwhile, have vowed to respond forcefully to any attack.

US Vice-President JD Vance told the Washington Post that military strikes remain an option, but said there was “no chance” of the United States entering a prolonged war.

Mediator Oman said Thursday’s indirect negotiations in Geneva produced “significant progress” and that further talks would be held soon. While Washington has yet to comment officially, Tehran has also described the discussions as yielding positive results.

The growing uncertainty has heightened concerns across the region, with diplomatic missions reviewing security arrangements and governments closely monitoring developments related to the standoff between the United States and Iran.

With inputs from BBC