Latest news with #embassyClosure
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Switzerland temporarily closes Iran embassy, UK withdraws embassy staff
Switzerland announced Friday the temporary closure of its embassy in Tehran, adding that it would continue to fulfil its role representing US interests in Iran. 'In view of the intensity of military operations in Iran and the highly unstable situation on the ground, the FDFA has decided to temporarily close the Swiss embassy in Tehran,' the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Meanwhile, the UK said it had withdrawn its embassy staff from Iran on the eighth day of the war with Israel, as the US mulled whether to enter the conflict. 'Due to the current security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw our UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely,' the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Australia withdraws embassy officials from Tehran
Australia's foreign minister announced the country closed its embassy in Tehran Friday and evacuated staff and their families. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it was due to the 'deteriorating security environment,' and urged Australian citizens still in Iran to leave quickly.
SBS Australia
15 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Tehran embassy to close, Wong urges Australians who can safely leave Iran to 'do so now'
Australia has closed its embassy in Tehran, as Iran and Israel continue to bomb each other and after United States President Donald Trump signalled the US could enter the conflict. All Australian foreign affairs staff and their dependents in the Iranian capital have been told to leave "based on advice about the deteriorating security environment". The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday: "We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe." "Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place," she said. "We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries." "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington, quoting a message from Trump. The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted a week ago, when the former launched an attack against the Islamic republic's missile capabilities, claiming it was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1,300 others, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Israel says Iran's retaliatory strikes have killed at least 24 and wounded hundreds more. Iran has warned of "all-out war" if the US joins the fray. There are now more than 2,000 Australians who have registered for assistance to leave Iran, up from 1,500 on Thursday. "It's a difficult, hard situation, the airspace is still closed," Health Minister Mark Butler told Seven's Sunrise program on Friday. "We'll be exploring every opportunity we can to support people getting out in other ways." The government has already helped Australians flee Israel using a border crossing to Jordan, and some of those people only got 55 minutes to get moving. "When the opportunity arises to get people out, we take that opportunity," Butler said. There are still more than 1,200 Australians registered for assistance to depart Israel, where the airspace is also closed.
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Penny Wong issues an urgent warning to Australians in Iran - as she orders evacuation of embassy
Australia has closed its embassy in Tehran, as Iran and Israel continue to bomb each other and after US President Donald Trump signalled the US could enter the conflict. All foreign affairs staff and their dependents in the Iranian capital have been told to leave 'based on advice about the deteriorating security environment'. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran. 'We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe,' Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday. 'Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.' Overnight in the US, Mr Trump, who has kept the world guessing about whether the US might join the war on Israel's side, said he would make a decision within the next two weeks. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington, quoting a message from the president. The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted a week ago, when the former launched an attack against the Islamic republic's missile capabilities, claiming it was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Australian Rozita Hassaniserkani is worried her father in Iran will forget her before she can see him again. It was several days after Israel's initial strikes on Iran before she could make contact with her family in Tehran. 'I didn't have anything from them and it was so stressful,' she told AAP. 'They are OK but there are so many people, so many innocent people, killed in the last few days and it's really sad. 'When you know your loved one or your country is in danger ... and you can't do anything, I think it's the worst feeling anyone can experience.' Ms Hassaniserkani - who came to Australia in 2012 - planned to visit Iran in July to see her father, who has Alzheimer's disease. 'He might forget me if I don't see him soon,' she said. 'I was crying like a child and saying ,'Why (should) these kind of things happen in this world, when everybody can live in peace?'' Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1329 others, the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists says. Israel says at least 24 civilians have been killed by retaliatory strikes. Iranian refugee Nazanin Jebeli said the past week had been difficult. 'I'm worried for my people, but at the same time, Iranian women, they're looking for peace, and that's what matters,' she told AAP. 'Iranian people, no matter what, history has always showed that they had each other's back in difficult times and we support each other.' Mr Trump has demanded that Iran unconditionally surrender, saying he knew where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding. Iran has warned of 'all-out war' if the US joins the fray. Ms Hassaniserkani and Ms Jebeli are among the group of people featured in Archibald Packing Room Prize-winning artist Kathrin Longhurst's exhibition Collective Threads: A Public Presence, which opened at Sydney's Cato Gallery on Thursday. Ms Longhurst - born in East Germany during the Cold War - related to living in an oppressive regime and said working with the Iranian women had proved inspiring and empowering. The project stemmed from protests in 2022 over the death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, but has taken on additional significance in recent days. 'I know there's a lot of anxiety in the Iranian community but this whole body of work has been about people supporting each other, women supporting women,' Ms Longhurst said.
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Australia closes Tehran embassy tells officials to leave over security fears
Australia has shuttered its embassy in Tehran and directed all Australian officials and their dependants to leave 'based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran'. All Australians in the country have been urged to leave if it is safe, or to shelter in place if it is not. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia's Ambassador to Iran will remain in the region 'to support the Australian Government's response to this crisis'. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran,' she said. 'We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries. At this stage, our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.' There are currently some 1200 Australians seeking evacuation from Iran, with that number expected to rise as thousands of Australians remain stuck in the region. Australia's suspension of Embassy operations is concurent with similar measures taken by other countries, including New Zealand and Switzerland. Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance are urged to call the Australian Government's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 (in Australia).
