Australia has suspended its diplomatic mission in Iran and evacuated all staff and their families to neighbouring Azerbaijan amid mounting fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.
The urgent withdrawal follows a dramatic 24-hour overland journey for diplomats and dependents, undertaken in response to worsening security conditions in Iran, where tensions with Israel have continued to rise and military strikes have intensified.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that all Australian officials and their families had been directed to leave Tehran, citing a “deteriorating security environment” and the government’s duty to ensure their safety.
"The government has a responsibility to ensure the safety of our staff ... we do not have to cast our minds back too far in history to understand the risk to foreign officials in Iran in times of unrest," Senator Wong said.
Australian authorities are now issuing urgent travel warnings to citizens in Iran, urging them to leave if they can do so safely by land. Over 2,300 Australians and their immediate family members have registered their intent to depart.
