Summary of Press Briefing at the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East on 6 March 2026 at 18.10 hrs.

Summary of Press Briefing
at the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation
in the Middle East

by Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat,
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and MFA Deputy Spokesperson
on 6 March 2026 at 18.10 hrs at the Government House

• H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister, has issued a directive to establish the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East. The Center aims to centralize coordination and enhance the effectiveness of assistance provided to affected Thai citizens both domestically and in the Middle East.
• Daily press briefings will continue in the same format, with representatives from relevant agencies providing updates. The venue has been moved to the Government House.

1. Developments on the Situation in the Middle East

• The situation remains highly volatile, with Israel, the U.S., and Iran continuing to launch attacks against one another and reports of new strikes emerging regularly.
• The conflict has spread to neighboring countries, including Lebanon, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely following developments regarding Azerbaijan, which has reportedly been targeted by airstrikes, resulting in civilian injuries and damage to infrastructure. This has prompted the Azerbaijani government to signal its readiness to respond, which further heightens regional concerns.
• No Thai nationals have been reported injured or killed; however, the Ministry continues to urge Thai citizens to leave high-risk areas as soon as possible and register their contact details with the responsible Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General to facilitate assistance. Thai nationals may contact the respective missions at any time through the available channels.

1. Developments on assistance being provided to Thai nationals in the affected areas

• The number of Thais registered for evacuation in Iran has increased from 117 to 125. The first group of 69 people will depart on 7 March 2026, while the second group of 56 people will depart on 10 March 2026, with some still in the process of obtaining exit visas.
• The Ministry continues to urge any additional Thai nationals in Iran who wish to return to contact the Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran immediately so that the necessary documentation can be coordinated.
• Officials from the Consular Affairs Department and the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara will be ready to receive these first two groups of evacuees upon their arrival in Türkiye tomorrow (7 March 2026). They will provide accommodation and meals while the evacuees await their flights back to Thailand over the next few days.
• Starting tomorrow (7 March 2026), a temporary operation center will be established in Van, Türkiye, for Thai nationals arriving from Iran. It will also serve as the temporary office of the Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran to facilitate the rest of Thai nationals in Iran.
• In Saudi Arabia, the Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh has also been closely coordinating with the Royal Thai Embassies in neighboring countries, whose airspace are still closed, to facilitate cross-border movement of Thai nationals so that they can return to Thailand or travel onward by air.
• The Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General in other affected areas are also continuing to facilitate Thai nationals who wish to return to Thailand by coordinating with relevant authorities to expedite the necessary procedures, especially with more airlines, such as Etihad, Emirates and Air Arabia, having begun to resume some of their operations for repatriation from today (6 March 2026) onwards.
• The Embassies and Consulates-General will also continue to provide guidance and other forms of assistance as needed.