The Australian government has suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran amid escalating military activity between Israel and the Iranian government.
In a statement, Labor Foreign Minister Penny Wong said all Australian officials and dependents had been directed to depart Iran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment.
Australia’s ambassador to Iran will remain in the region.
Meanwhile, those who cannot or do not want to leave, have been encouraged to find safe shelter.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support departing Australians.
“We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries,” Wong said in a statement.
“At this stage, our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.”
DFAT will also continue to provide support through the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre and regularly update its travel advice.
Australia is not the only nation to have suspended its embassy amid the conflict, with New Zealand and Switzerland already doing so.
Tense Situation
The most recent conflict broke out on June 13 when Israel launched surprise attacks on the Islamic Republic’s missile capabilities, citing suspicions the Iranian regime was close to developing nuclear weapons.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is hopeful the conflict will bring about a regime change after the 1979 Iranian Revolution saw the nation coming under strict Islamic law—something many ethnic Persians are at odds with.
The event also saw Iran cut all official diplomatic ties with Israel.
“Cyrus freed the Jews, and today the Jewish state might free the Persians,” Netanyahu told media, citing an ancient event in which the Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great freed Jewish people from captivity in what is now Iraq.
“In the end, they have to rise up themselves, but we are creating the conditions,” the Israeli leader said.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump says he is considering action on forcing Iran to the negotiating table.
Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded on X, saying, “It isn’t wise to tell the Iranian nation to surrender.”
“We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone,” he said.
