Australia closes Tehran embassy

Australia has shut down its embassy in Tehran, citing a worsening security environment as Israeli strikes hit Iranian nuclear facilities for a second time. With the air conflict entering its second week and no sign of either side backing down, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the decision on Friday.

“We have a very volatile security situation in Iran,” Wong told journalists during a press conference.

She added that Australian defence forces and aircraft were being deployed to the Middle East to assist with the possible evacuation of citizens and diplomatic staff once airspace reopens. However, she stressed that the personnel would not be involved in any combat operations.

“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,” she said.

The embassy closure underscores growing fears that the conflict between Iran and Israel may deepen, drawing in regional and global actors.