Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged all citizens still in Iran to leave immediately, cautioning against any travel plans to the country, he announced at a press conference today.

Tusk also issued a stark warning regarding the situation in Iran, describing the potential for armed conflict as "very realistic". He added that the opportunity for evacuation might become impossible "within a few dozen hours".

The Polish prime minister further noted that past evacuation warnings had been disregarded, resulting in negative experiences. "Some people underestimate these kinds of calls", he remarked.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on 14/2. *Photo: AFP*

This marks the second time Polish officials have urged citizens to leave Iran in recent months. The Polish government has not disclosed the number of its citizens currently in Iran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is anticipated to release additional guidance following Tusk's appeal.

Meanwhile, CNN reported on 18/2, citing informed sources, that the US military has prepared for potential strikes on Iran as early as this weekend. This comes despite President Donald Trump not having made a final decision.

The US forces positioned near Iran include a carrier strike group, at least four E-3G Sentry early warning aircraft, dozens of F-15E, F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighter jets, alongside a large number of support and refueling aircraft. This deployment represents an unprecedented level of US air presence in the Middle East over decades.

This military buildup coincides with the second round of negotiations between Iran and the US, mediated by Oman, currently underway in Switzerland. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that both parties have established a "set of guiding principles" for negotiating and drafting an agreement.

Ngoc Anh (According to Reuters, AFP)