ExclusiveCountries Urge Citizens in Middle East to Shelter in Place as Trump's Ultimatum Nears

Several countries have urged their citizen to shelter in place in Iran as U.S. President Donald Trump's 8 p.m. Tuesday ultimatum comes near. India's embassy in Tehran told Indian nationals who are still in Iran that they must stay where they are for the next 48 hours. They should avoid all electric, military installations and upper floors of multi-story buildings, remain indoors and coordinate any highway movement strictly with the embassy. Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Bahrain has directed all U.S. government employees to shelter in place and recommended that all Americans in Bahrain do the same until further notice. The warnings were issued as Trump threatened to wipe out the entirety of Iran's civilization if Tehran doesn't reopen the Hormuz Strait or reach a deal by the deadline. Various reports say Iran cut off direct diplomacy with the U.S. after Trump's aggressive rhetoric, though talks with ceasefire mediators continue. The cutoff could complicate efforts to make a deal by Trump's 8 p.m. deadline Tuesday, but hasn't ended the talks, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified Middle Eastern officials.