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

8 March 2026

Official Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East: No Thai Casualties Reported; Continued Assistance to Thai Nationals; Chemical Fertilizer Stocks in Thailand Remain Sufficient

Today at 18:10 hrs. at Phakdi Bordin Building, Government House, the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East held a press briefing to provide an update on the situation. Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Acting Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed issues related to the situation in the Middle East and progress in assisting Thai nationals. Mr. Nantapong Chiralerspong, Director-General of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, briefed on the status of chemical fertilizer stocks in Thailand.

Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat stated that the overall situation in the Middle East remains volatile and uncertain, particularly in Iran, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Lebanon. At the same time, Iran has indicated that its operations would be directed specifically at military bases of the United States and would not target other countries in the region, describing such actions as measures of self-defense. Meanwhile, the President of the United States has signaled the possibility of a strong response against Iran, contributing to continued tensions and uncertainty in the region. Regarding aviation, although Qatar has closed its airspace to commercial flights, Qatar Airways has initiated limited emergency flights to transport cargo and evacuate stranded passengers. At present, there have been no reports of Thai nationals injured or killed. However, due to the continuing uncertainty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Thai nationals in high-risk areas to consider leaving the area as soon as possible and to register their residence and contact details with the relevant Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General.

Regarding assistance to Thai nationals in Iran, a first group of 62 Thai nationals from Tehran and Qom safely arrived in Turkey on the evening of 7 March. Officials from the Department of Consular Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara facilitated their entry at the border checkpoint. The group subsequently traveled to the city of Van to await their return to Thailand by air, which will take place in two groups. The first group is scheduled to arrive in Thailand on 9 March, and the second group on 10 March. In addition, another group of Thai nationals in Iran is scheduled to depart the country on 10 March. The Department of Consular Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassies in Tehran and Ankara are closely coordinating efforts to ensure their safe evacuation. For Thai nationals in Iraq, evacuations across the border into Turkey have been conducted in three rounds, totaling 18 individuals. In the latest round, 10 Thai nationals arrived in the city of Mardin on the night of 7 March and will proceed to Istanbul to continue their journey back to Thailand. Overall, a total of 292 Thai nationals stranded in the Middle East have been assisted in returning to Thailand.