War between Israel and Iran prompts temporary embassy withdrawals from Tehran
Diplomatic staff from multiple nations evacuate their posts in Iran.
In the heat of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, several countries have decided to withdraw their embassy staff from Tehran. On a Friday announcement, the UK, Australia, and Switzerland made the decision to temporarily remove their personnel due to the unstable security situation. "Given the current volatile climate, we've made the precautionary step to momentarily withdraw our British staff from Iran," the UK's Foreign Office stated. The embassies will continue to operate remotely.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry announced that the "intensity of military operations in Iran and the dramatically unstable situation" led to the temporary closure of their embassy in Tehran. "Our diplomatic personnel have left Iranian soil and are safe. They will return to Tehran once the situation stabilizes." Switzerland also stated that they would continue to fulfill their duties as the protecting power for American interests in Iran, as the US and Iran do not maintain diplomatic relations, with Switzerland representing US interests in Iran instead.
Australia announced on Friday that they would withdraw their embassy staff and families from Iran. Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated, "This decision is not made lightly; it is a decision based on the escalating security situation in Iran." Bulgaria, New Zealand, Portugal, and the Czech Republic also temporarily closed their embassies.
Last week, Israel carried out a massive attack on Iran, bombing primarily nuclear facilities and military installations within the country. Iran retaliated by launching rockets and drones against Israel. US President Donald Trump is planning to decide within the next two weeks whether to launch a military attack against Iran as well.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Enrichment Data: As of June 22, 2025, the latest updates show an intense escalation in military conflict between Israel and Iran. However, there is no specific publicly reported information from the given sources about nations temporarily withdrawing embassy staff from Tehran in response to the ongoing Israel-Iran war. The search results detail statements from Iranian-backed militias condemning US airstrikes and warnings from groups like the Houthis about potential attacks on US-linked vessels if the US becomes involved. But no direct references to embassy evacuations or staff withdrawals have been observed in the sources reviewed. Therefore, based on the latest available updates, while the conflict is intensifying militarily and raising regional tensions, there are no confirmed moves by international nations to temporarily withdraw embassy staff from Tehran as part of their diplomatic response.
- In the midst of the intense military conflict between Israel and Iran, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union might express concern over the escalating situation in Tehran, given the war-and-conflicts and general-news.
- Amidst the swirl of politics and international relations, a statement could be made by the European Commission, urging its member states to remain vigilant in Tehran due to the war-and-conflicts in the region and the unpredictable nature of the Israel-Iran standoff that has led to embassy closures and staff withdrawals.
