Sweden urges citizens to leave Iran amid heightened regional uncertainty

Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Maria Stenergard, has urged Swedish nationals to leave Iran immediately, citing growing uncertainty over the security situation in the country and the wider region.

In a statement on X, Stenergard said the situation in Iran and across the region remains highly unpredictable. She stressed the importance of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ advisory against all travel to Iran and issued an urgent appeal to Swedish citizens currently in the country to depart without delay, Caliber.Az reports. 

Utvecklingen i Iran och i regionen är mycket osäker. Jag vill därför understryka vikten av UD:s avrådan från alla resor till Iran, och den skarpa uppmaningen till svenska medborgare som befinner sig i landet att lämna.

Det är fortfarande möjligt att lämna Iran via flyg och…

— Maria M Stenergard (@MariaStenergard) February 20, 2026

According to the foreign minister, it is still possible to leave Iran via commercial flights and through open border crossings. However, she warned that Swedes should take advantage of these options while they remain available and not postpone their departure.

Stenergard also underscored that individuals who choose to remain in Iran bear significant personal responsibility for their decision. She made clear that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs would not be able to assist with any evacuation from the country.

The warning came as Iran signalled on February 20 that it hoped to reach a swift agreement with the United States regarding its nuclear programme, an issue that has long strained relations between the two countries.

At the same time, Trump — after ordering a significant naval build-up in the Middle East, intended to increase pressure on Tehran — said he was “considering” a limited military strike should negotiations fail to produce results.

By Sabina Mammadli