Travel alert 'strongly' advises New Zealanders to avoid Middle East

New Zealand has updated travel advice for the Middle East, warning the military conflict between Iran and the US could escalate further in coming days.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Safe Travel site says the situation remains unpredictable with military strikes and reprisal attacks happening in a number of locations.It says if the security situation deteriorates further there could be travel disruption and airspace closures.The alert warned that New Zealanders travelling through the Middle East transit hubs could become stranded for extended periods.It has now issued a Level 3 alert - advising against all non-essential travel to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.It advised people to consult with their travel insurance providers to understand the policy's conditions, including if government travel advisories or war exceptions could potentially void their coverage.The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued advice to air operators to avoid Gulf airspace until at least 29 July 2026.It said people should check with their travel providers to confirm if their flights were affected.New Zealanders who were in the locations where travel alerts had been issued should monitor media closely for reporting of potential targets in the region and warnings issued by local authorities."For those travelling, we strongly advise New Zealanders to avoid the Middle East and consider other travel routes. If you need to transit these locations, stay as short a time as possible and avoid unnecessary activities. Airspace may close at short notice. Flights can change or stop suddenly. Borders can close," the advisory said."US strikes had been reported in many locations across Iran, including in Buschehr, Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, Konarak, Kurdistan, Sirik, Tabriz and Hamadan," it said.Iran had targeted US military and other interests across the region and attacked or warned of attacks on civilian infrastructure including airports and water desalination facilities, the advisory said.