Australia and Slovakia close embassies in Iran amid escalating tensions
Australia and Slovakia close embassies in Iran amid escalating tensions (illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Australia and Slovakia are closing their embassies in Tehran due to the deteriorating security situation in Iran. The foreign ministries of both countries have ordered all diplomats and embassy staff to leave Iran, according to the Times of Israel.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced at a press conference in Adelaide that she had ordered all Australian officials and their family members to leave Iran and suspended the operations of the Australian Embassy in Tehran.
"This decision was not made lightly. It is based on the deteriorating security situation in Iran," she stated.
According to Wong, around 2,000 Australians and their family members currently registered in Iran wish to leave, along with another 1,200 in Israel. The government is advising all Australians to leave Iran if they can do so safely.
Slovakia has also announced the temporary closure of its diplomatic mission in Iran and the evacuation of all staff. Authorities in Bratislava cited the escalating situation in the region as the reason behind the decision.
Other countries that have already suspended embassy operations in Tehran include Bulgaria, the Czechia, New Zealand, Portugal, and Switzerland.
Evacuation from Iran and Israel
Amid the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Iran, several countries have issued security warnings and urged their citizens to urgently leave both countries. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example, has advised all Ukrainian nationals to evacuate Iran and Israel as soon as possible.
Cyprus has announced it will assist in the evacuation of Portuguese and Slovak citizens following official requests for help.
The Chinese embassy in Israel has also urged its nationals to leave the country by any available means. Many other nations have similarly advised their citizens to exit Israel, particularly via border crossings with Jordan and Egypt.
Previously, the United States began organizing evacuation flights for its citizens in Israel, strongly recommending that all Americans leave the country without delay.
