The Prime Minister has ordered the Air Force to find the fastest route to evacuate Thais in Iran, assigned Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti to assess economic impacts, and will meet with the National Security Council tomorrow to discuss whether the conflict will escalate. He acknowledged all possibilities and urged Thais to follow official advice carefully.
On 1 March 2026, at 09:50 GMT+7, atthe Military Airportat Wing 6 (Wg.6), Anutin Charnvirakul, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, spoke about the conflict situation in the Middle East. Since last night, he has received reports from relevant agencies, including security and foreign affairs, and has ordered preparations to evacuate Thais in the area. He has coordinated with the Air Force Commander to prepare aircraft to pick up Thais in the conflict zones.The first priorityis Thais residing in Iran, considered the most dangerous area, then extending to other countries with conflicts. They will find ways to bring them back safely. Regarding aircraft, there should be no problems if military planes are used, although they may need to stop for refueling.at multiple locations,which will be considered carefully.Chartering flightsto enablethe operationto proceed as quickly as possible. They also need to check for any airspace closures to determine if evacuation must go through a third country before bringing people home. When asked how soon planes could pick up evacuees, the Prime Minister said they are ready at any time, butthe key issueis the destination. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Transport will use government aviation codes to arrange efficient aircraft that do not need to stop forrefueling,enabling a direct flight to evacuate them. He reaffirmed the Thai government willdo everything possibletoensurethose Thais are kept as safe as possible. If they wish to return, the government must be ready to receive them.
Anutin added that for economic preparedness, he has assigned Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas to prepare for the situation. Economic impacts are inevitable, including living costs,fuel prices,and energy costs. They must find waysto minimize the impacton the public. When asked if a National Security Council meeting is necessary, Anutin said a meeting will be held on 2 March at 10:00 GMT+7, followed by meetings with all sectors including the private sector, banks, chambers of commerce, and those responsible for exportsand imports,to establish price support measures to prevent severe effects on Thai consumers. When asked if the situation might escalate, the Prime Minister said all possibilities exist. The key is to prepare so Thailand does not suffer severe impacts. If impacts occur,they should be as minimal as possible,so preparations must be made across all sectors.
Asked about the number of Thais in Iran, the Prime Minister said approximately 70,000 Thais are reported to be in conflict areas, but details must be confirmed with each ministry. When asked what message he has for Thaiswho do not wish to return immediately,the Prime Minister said each country has measures in place for the safety of its citizens and foreigners within its borders. He urged everyone to monitorthe advice carefullyand comply strictly. Currently, Thai embassies in various countries have opened hotlines and operation centers to provide assistance at all times.