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 9 March 2026 at 17.35 hrs at the Government House

1. Developments on the Situation in the Middle East

• The situation in the region remains volatile, with continued exchanges of missile and drone attacks, particularly in Iran, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Lebanon. There is no indication that the U.S., Israel, and Iran will return to negotiations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to closely monitor the developments, especially attacks on critical infrastructure in the region.
• On 8 March 2026, Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, former Supreme Leader of Iran, as the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
• Qatar Airways has begun operating special emergency flights to transport cargo and repatriate a number of stranded passengers. On 8 March 2026, the airline operated the Bangkok - Doha route for the first time to facilitate the return of passengers who had been stranded in Bangkok back to Doha. The Ministry will continue to closely monitor the feasibility of operating the Doha - Bangkok route to bring stranded passengers back to Thailand as soon as possible.
• There have been no reports of Thai nationals injured or killed. However, given the continued uncertainty of the situation, the Ministry continues to urge Thai nationals to consider leaving high-risk areas as soon as possible and to register their current address and contact information with the responsible Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General.

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

• Iran The first group of Thai nationals from Tehran and Qom, totaling 29 persons, has safely arrived in Thailand. They were welcomed at Suvarnabhumi Airport by H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• A further 23 Thai nationals, who left Iran as part of the same evacuation effort, are scheduled to arrive in Bangkok on 10 March 2026.
• Another group of Thai nationals in Iran is also scheduled to depart for Türkiye. The Consular Affairs Department and the Royal Thai Embassies in Tehran and Ankara have been closely coordinating for their safe return.
• The Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General in other countries within the region continue to facilitate, assist, and provide guidance to Thai nationals who wish to return to Thailand, while coordinating with airlines in locations where flights remain operational, such as the UAE and Jordan.
• The Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General in the region are also coordinating with relevant local authorities regarding permissions for cross-border travel in order to assist Thai nationals in countries, whose airspace remains closed for commercial flights (such as Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq), to travel to neighboring countries (including Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Türkiye) so that they can go on to depart by air and safely return to Thailand or travel onward to third countries.
• As a total tally thus far, 322 Thai nationals have returned to Thailand.
• The Government remains firmly committed to assisting Thai nationals in the Middle East who have been affected by the situation, in order to ensure that they are able to safely leave at-risk areas as soon as possible.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again seeks the public’s cooperation in refraining from protests or gathering in high-risk areas in affected countries, for everyone’s safety.
• The Ministry respects the right of all sectors to express their views and opinions. However, such expressions should be based on facts and exercised responsibly, taking into account the safety of Thai nationals in the affected areas as the primary consideration. This remains the highest priority for the Government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.