Hungary evacuates citizens, suspends embassy operations in Iran

BUDAPEST, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government has evacuated six of its citizens from Iran and temporarily suspended the operations of its embassy in Tehran due to worsening security conditions, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto announced Thursday.

Szijjarto said the decision followed detailed planning, as the security situation in Iran has deteriorated amid intensified Israeli missile and bomb attacks. Due to the closure of Iranian airspace and difficult transportation conditions, the evacuation was carried out by land toward Azerbaijan.

In addition to the civilians, all Hungarian diplomats and their family members stationed in Tehran, a total of 15 individuals, including children, were also evacuated to Azerbaijan.

The Hungarian embassy in Tehran will remain closed until security conditions allow safe operations to resume. Embassy functions will be temporarily managed from Azerbaijan.

"This decision was necessary to ensure the safety of our staff and their families," Szijjarto said.

On June 13, Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing a number of senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran has fired missiles at multiple targets in Israel, causing casualties and extensive damage.

The conflict has so far killed nearly 600 people in Iran and 24 in Israel, according to official figures. ■