In a statement by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, it was announced that the activities of the Australian Embassy in Tehran have been suspended.
Australia has decided to suspend the operations of its embassy in Tehran and has ordered all diplomats and their families to leave Iran due to the escalating security situation in the region.
In her statement, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong noted that the country’s ambassador will remain in the region to coordinate actions regarding the conflict between Iran and Israel. Consular staff will be relocated to Azerbaijan to provide support to Australians leaving Iran.
“We urge Australians who can safely leave Iran to do so now. Those who cannot or do not wish to leave are advised to stay in shelter.”
Wong also emphasized that Australia currently has limited capacity to provide consular assistance to its citizens in Iran.
According to CNN, New Zealand has also closed its embassy in Tehran from Thursday “until further notice.” Citizens requiring consular services are being redirected to the embassy in Ankara.
Switzerland has also announced the temporary closure of its embassy in Tehran, as it represents U.S. interests in Iran following the severance of diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Israel’s Attack on Iran
On the night of June 13, the Israel Defense Forces launched an air operation against Iran’s nuclear program. The Israeli Air Force struck numerous targets within Iran, including facilities related to uranium enrichment and other military installations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation’s goal is “to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, its ballistic missile production plants, and military capabilities.” He emphasized that the operation will continue as long as necessary until the mission is fully accomplished.
The attack resulted in the deaths of the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, and the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, according to the Iranian state news agency.
Following the Israeli attack, several countries closed their airspace. The IAEA expressed concern over the strikes on nuclear facilities. Iran claims that its nuclear sites did not suffer significant damage during the attack.
In response to the attack, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory.
Later, on June 13 and 14, Israel carried out additional airstrikes on Iranian cities housing key defense installations and military bases.
At an emergency UN Security Council meeting on June 13, Iran officially accused the United States of involvement in Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory. Washington rejected these accusations and called on Tehran to negotiate over its nuclear program.
Read also:
- A grenade was thrown at the Norwegian ambassador’s residence in Israel, causing material damage but no injuries. This incident follows escalating Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and rising regional tensions.
- US officials prepare for a possible military strike on Iran amid escalating tensions and Israeli air operations targeting Iran’s nuclear sites.
- US President Donald Trump plans to decide on possible military action against Iran within two weeks amid ongoing tensions and Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
