France, Poland Urge No Travel to Lebanon, Israel and Palestinian Territories

An aerial view shows the Eiffel tower, the Seine River and the Paris skyline, France, July 14, 2019. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo
An aerial view shows the Eiffel tower, the Seine River and the Paris skyline, France, July 14, 2019. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo
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France, Poland Urge No Travel to Lebanon, Israel and Palestinian Territories

An aerial view shows the Eiffel tower, the Seine River and the Paris skyline, France, July 14, 2019. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo
An aerial view shows the Eiffel tower, the Seine River and the Paris skyline, France, July 14, 2019. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo

France on Friday warned its citizens to "imperatively refrain from travel in the coming days to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories", the foreign minister's entourage told AFP.  

Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne issued the recommendation after Iran threatened reprisals over an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria, sparking fears of an escalation of violence in the Middle East.

Later, Poland's foreign ministry advised against travel to Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, it said in updated travel guidance published on Friday. 

"It cannot be ruled out that there will be a sudden escalation of military operations, which would cause significant difficulties in leaving these three countries," the ministry said in a statement.  

"Any escalation may lead to significant restrictions in air traffic and the inability to cross land border crossings."

The Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories consist of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. 



G7 FMs Condemn Iran's Export of Ballistic Missiles to Russia

An Iranian woman crosses the street near a new anti-Israel billboard carrying a picture of Iranian drones.  EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
An Iranian woman crosses the street near a new anti-Israel billboard carrying a picture of Iranian drones. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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G7 FMs Condemn Iran's Export of Ballistic Missiles to Russia

An Iranian woman crosses the street near a new anti-Israel billboard carrying a picture of Iranian drones.  EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
An Iranian woman crosses the street near a new anti-Israel billboard carrying a picture of Iranian drones. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

The foreign ministers of the Group of the Seven have condemned on Saturday "in the strongest terms" Iran's export and Russia's procurement of Iranian ballistic missiles.

"Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs and related technology, which constitute a direct threat to the Ukrainian people as well as European and international security more broadly," the G7 ministers said in a statement.

G7 groups Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain and the US.

Iran's foreign minister said that Tehran was open to diplomacy to solve disputes but not "threats and pressure,” state media reported on Saturday, after the US and three European powers imposed sanctions against the country's aviation sector.
Abbas Araqchi's comments come a day after The European Union's chief diplomat said the bloc is considering new sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, in reaction to reports Tehran supplied Russia with ballistic missiles in its war against Ukraine.
Araqchi said on Wednesday that Tehran had not delivered any ballistic missiles to Russia and sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States and three European powers would not solve any problems between them.

The United States, Germany, Britain and France on Tuesday imposed new sanctions on Iran, including measures against its national airline Iran Air.