Phiphat emphasized that the return of Thai nationals from Iran must be conducted safely and questioned Prime Minister Anutin alone about the clarity on forming the government coalition. He pointed out that using a chartered commercial plane is less expensive than military aircraft.
At 09:50 on 5 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, gave an interview at the Government House regarding the clarity on repatriating 200 Thais from Iran to Turkey as a transit point for returning to Thailand amid the Middle East war situation. He said, "Currently, it is the travelers' decision whether they are ready, as the 1,000-kilometer journey is not easy. There may be checkpoints and both well-intentioned and malicious actors, which cannot be predicted. Therefore, the situation must be assessed to ensure the safest possible conditions before moving them."
When asked about the readiness of the aircraft to bring Thais back, Phiphat stated, "According to the Prime Minister, a chartered commercial plane flying through Turkish airspace to Thailand will be used, which is less costly than deploying Air Force planes. There will be issues regarding permits, security, and insurance, which are more complicated." When pressed on whether the decision will be made by the public or the government, Phiphat said the assessment comes from the Thai embassy in Iran, which will report information through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister again.
, Phiphat was also asked about the seminar of the Bhumjaithai Party in Buriram Province and whether there would be clarity on government coalition formation. He replied, "That question should be directed to Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, as the leader of Bhumjaithai Party. As one of the party's key figures, I cannot answer that; only the Prime Minister can."
Meanwhile, Ms. Airin Panrit, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that due to the unrest in the Middle East, many citizens have been closely following the news, impacting mental health, especially families of affected migrant workers. The government is concerned and has assigned the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, to urgently provide special psychological care and support for those affected by the unrest, mobilizing expert teams to offer services via the 24-hour free mental health hotline 1323.
Additionally, services are expanded through the LINE Official channel by adding friends via the ID @1323middle.east or scanning the QR code from the Department of Mental Health's public relations materials, enabling Thai people in the conflict zone to communicate and receive assistance conveniently and quickly.
Besides these services, individual psychological care is essential. To help overcome this period strongly, the government, through the Department of Mental Health, recommends six basic self-care methods as follows:
1. Follow news in moderation, schedule appropriate times, avoid excessive consumption, and refrain from reading news before bedtime.
2. Maintain as normal a lifestyle as possible and keep regular daily routines to reduce anxiety over drastic changes.
3. Have a backup safety plan; planning helps provide a sense of control over the situation.
4. Stay connected with loved ones; encouragement from family or friends improves mental health.
5. Engage in stress-relief activities such as physical exercise, meditation, or breathing exercises.
6. Seek help promptly if emotional management becomes difficult by contacting specialists through the Department of Mental Health's provided channels.
"The government supports the mental health of Thai people to alleviate anxiety during this crisis. For additional self-care information, visit www.สุขภาพจิต.com or consult the free 24-hour mental health hotline 1323. Thai nationals in the unrest area of the Middle East can add friends via ID @1323middle.east to access comprehensive and prompt mental health services. The government stands ready to support and overcome this crisis together strongly."