BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s government prepared to evacuate its citizens from Iran as conflict in parts of the Middle East expanded and security risks mounted.
Government prioritises evacuation from Iran
Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Thailand now explicitly treated the situation in Iran as an evacuation case and was working to move all Thai nationals out of the country as quickly as possible. He stated that returning willing travellers to Thailand was the government’s top priority.
He urged those wishing to come back to contact the authorities without delay so that travel routes could be organised and seats secured on available flights. According to the report, officials focused on speed and coordination to avoid bottlenecks once departures became possible.
Embassies coordinate safe zones across region
Thai embassies in the region coordinated with host countries to establish gathering and protection areas for Thai citizens. These safe zones were intended to provide temporary shelter while onward travel arrangements were being made.
Officials closely monitored the security situation to move people out of high‑risk areas and into safer locations. The approach aimed to keep citizens away from immediate danger while maintaining flexibility for future evacuation steps.
Exit routes via Emirates and Bahrain under review
The Foreign Ministry examined potential exit routes, including connections through the United Arab Emirates, if airspace reopened and airlines resumed operations. Plans depended heavily on flight availability and regional airspace conditions.
At the same time, authorities worked to secure enough tickets, while similar logistical options were assessed for Bahrain. Separate routes were being weighed to avoid overreliance on a single transit hub.
Warning over areas near US military bases
Sihasak stressed that Thais in the region needed to be moved out of vulnerable zones, particularly from areas close to US military bases. These locations were considered at higher risk in the event of further escalation.
Authorities aimed to relocate people to safe areas and keep them there until clear travel options or assistance measures became available. The policy focused on prevention, keeping citizens away from sites that could become potential targets.
Conflict zone broader than in 2024
In response to questions, Sihasak pointed out that the current escalation covered a much larger area than the Israel–Iran tensions in 2024. The affected zone extended well beyond the core conflict states.
According to the report, the impacted region now ranged from Iran and Israel to the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and even as far as Cyprus. This wider footprint complicated planning and required broader regional coordination.
Over 100,000 Thais identified in affected areas
Because of the expanded conflict zone, the estimate of Thai citizens in the region rose significantly, Sihasak explained, from around 40,000 previously to now more than 100,000. This higher figure reshaped Bangkok’s assessment of the scale of support needed.
Separate contingency plans were being drawn up for each country to determine where affected people would be taken and how assistance would work in practice. These plans were intended to tailor responses to different risk and infrastructure conditions.
Israel: many remain despite elevated risk
Sihasak called for calm and noted that Israel had a missile defence system in place, with many residents relying on established protective measures. He indicated that this existing infrastructure influenced the decisions of foreign workers and residents.
According to his information, most of the approximately 65,000 Thai nationals in Israel wished to stay for the time being. The government continued to monitor the situation while respecting those choices.
Embassy in Iran operating in potential target area
The Thai embassy in Iran had around 10 staff members and was located in an area regarded as a potential target, but it had not been hit so far. Operations continued under heightened caution.
The situation remained unpredictable and was being reassessed continuously, including the possibility that embassy personnel themselves might have to be evacuated in an emergency. Planning therefore covered both ordinary citizens and diplomatic staff.
Initial evacuation routes via Turkey or Egypt
As a first step, evacuees were to be brought to Turkey, where authorities would check which airlines were still flying onward. This staging approach was meant to give flexibility if direct connections were disrupted.
Alternatively, a charter option from Egypt was also under consideration to pick up people and transport them on to Thailand. Such a solution would aim to move larger groups at once if commercial options remained limited.
Suvarnabhumi deploys extra teams after flight cancellations
At Suvarnabhumi International Airport, additional staff were deployed after flight cancellations linked to unrest between Israel and Iran. The disruptions affected both regional and connecting passengers.
The airport coordinated with airlines in the terminal to provide assistance to affected travellers and arranged extra accommodation as the number of cancellations increased. These measures were designed to manage crowding and reduce the impact on stranded passengers.