Germany Tells Nationals to Leave Iran, Fearing Retaliation over Sanctions

Alsharq Tribune-Gina Issa

Germany has told its nationals to leave Iran and refrain from travelling there to avoid getting caught in retaliatory acts by Tehran over Germany's role in triggering UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

Britain, France and Germany on Thursday launched a 30-day process to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program, a step likely to stoke tensions two months after Israel and the United States bombed Iran, reported Reuters.

"As Iranian government representatives have repeatedly threatened with consequences in this case, it cannot be ruled out that German interests and nationals will be affected by countermeasures in Iran," the foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.

"Currently, the German Embassy in Tehran can only provide limited consular assistance on site," it warned.