Thirteen citizens of Tajikistan have been evacuated from Iran through Azerbaijan amid the escalating military situation in the Middle East, according to the news agency Report.
The evacuation took place through the Astara border checkpoint. Two Turkish nationals also crossed the border alongside the Tajik citizens.
Those evacuated expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani authorities for facilitating their departure from Iran. Tajikistan’s official bodies had not commented on the information at the time of publication.
Earlier, the Embassy of Tajikistan in Tehran advised citizens of the republic to leave Iran if possible. The diplomatic mission also urged Tajik nationals in the country to remain calm, exercise vigilance, closely monitor official information and recommendations from the embassy and Iranian authorities, avoid areas near military and government facilities, and refrain from photo and video recording.
In a statement, the embassy said it continues to operate as usual and is ready to assist Tajik citizens with issues related to leaving Iran. Hotline numbers for contacting the embassy in Tehran have been published.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, carrying out airstrikes on several cities in the Islamic Republic. In response, Tehran announced missile strikes on Israeli territory and attacks on 14 U.S. military bases located in Persian Gulf countries.
Amid the escalation, several states in the region temporarily closed their airspace. Exchanges of strikes are ongoing, with the sides reporting conflicting casualty figures. Various estimates suggest that civilian casualties in Iran may number in the hundreds.
Iranian authorities have stated that the country’s armed forces will deliver a “decisive response to aggression” and continue strikes on U.S. and Israeli targets in the region.
Gulf states and European powers warn Iran of possible use of force
The Persian Gulf states — Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia — have declared their readiness to respond to potential attacks by Iran. The statement was issued following a joint meeting.
According to the document, in light of what the countries described as “unjustified Iranian aggression,” member states are prepared to take all necessary measures to safeguard their security, stability, territorial integrity, and the safety of their citizens and residents, including the right to retaliate.
Earlier, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France also warned they are prepared to use military force if Iran does not halt what they called “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks” against their allies in the Middle East. The joint statement was released by the German government’s press office.
The statement emphasized that Iran’s actions pose a threat to the military personnel and citizens of the three countries. London, Berlin, and Paris called on Tehran to immediately cease its attacks.
“We will take steps to protect our interests and those of our allies in the region and, if necessary, ensure the adoption of proportionate defensive measures aimed at neutralizing Iran’s missile and drone launch capabilities at their points of origin,” the statement said.
The countries also noted that further actions would be coordinated with the United States and other allies.
