ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a travel ban on its citizens travelling to Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, the country’s foreign ministry said, urging nationals currently in those countries to “expedite” their return. The advisory comes amid stalled talks between Washington and Tehran over a comprehensive resolution to the Iran war.
“In light of current regional developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announces a travel ban on UAE nationals traveling to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Iraq,” the ministry said in a statement, calling on “all UAE nationals currently in these countries to expedite their immediate return to the UAE.”
The ministry added that the move is “part of the UAE’s commitment to monitoring the wellbeing of its nationals abroad and ensuring their safety,” underscoring “the importance of adhering to all instructions and advisories it issues.”
It also urged UAE nationals in the three countries to contact the ministry, describing the measure as a precaution “taken by the UAE to safeguard the wellbeing of its citizens.”
The call comes as tensions continue to heighten in the region, following a large-scale aerial campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February, during which more than 17,000 sites were reportedly targeted over six weeks of hostilities.
In response, Iran carried out thousands of drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.
Abu Dhabi’s defense ministry reported in early April that it had intercepted nearly 2,900 aerial threats launched by Iran against its territory during the six-week war, killing more than a dozen people and injuring over 220 others in the UAE.
The US and Iran later agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8, halting fighting to allow space for talks. While the first round of discussions concluded without a final agreement on April 11, a second round has yet to take place, as the war has yet to fully conclude.
The main sticking points reportedly include disagreements over Iran’s enrichment capabilities, war reparations, and Tehran’s support for armed groups aligned with the ‘Axis of Resistance’ it heads - particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon - as well as the range of its ballistic missile program and the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
In parallel with the talks, Iran and the US have engaged in reciprocal maritime restrictions. In Hormuz, Tehran has tightened controls on shipping in the key chokepoint which handles over 25 percent of global seaborne oil trade and around 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.
Meanwhile Washington has, since April 13, enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Thursday that it had redirected a total of 44 commercial vessels attempting to violate the embargo.