After the onset of military actions by the US and Israel against Iran, Tajikistan has repatriated 219 of its citizens from Iran. Additionally, 115 Tajik nationals have returned via charter flights from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). This information was confirmed by the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
According to the ministry, 118 people left Iran via the Turkmenistan border, while 101 people crossed into Azerbaijan.
The ministry also established an operational headquarters, requiring the country’s diplomatic missions in the Middle East to provide daily updates on Tajik citizens in the region.
On March 3, Tajikistan's Ambassador to Iran, Nizomiddin Zohidi, reported that approximately 300 Tajik citizens were in Iran, mainly for business, medical treatment, and tourism. He also noted that, by that time, 200 people had applied for repatriation.
More than 100 Tajik citizens return on charter flights
On the night of March 4-5, Tajikistan repatriated another 115 citizens via a charter flight organized by Somon Air from Abu Dhabi.
Earlier, on March 4, Tajik MFA announced that Somon Air had been instructed to organize charter flights, if necessary, to evacuate Tajik citizens from unstable regions in the Middle East.
The Ministry also stated that citizens wishing to return on these flights should register at Tajikistan’s embassies and consulates in the relevant countries.
After the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israeli and US military bases in the Middle East, the security situation in the region has worsened. Many airlines have canceled or postponed flights, leaving hundreds of passengers, including Tajik citizens, stranded in hotels or airports in the Middle East.
At this time, it remains unclear how many Tajik citizens are trapped in the conflict zone and wish to return home. Previously, the Tajik embassy in Iran reported that approximately 200 people had submitted requests for repatriation.
The embassy also added that no one had been harmed due to recent events, and they are working on facilitating departures through border crossings in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. On March 1, 13 Tajik citizens left Iran through the Astara border crossing and arrived in Azerbaijan.
Travel advisory
The MFA had earlier advised citizens to "avoid traveling to Middle Eastern countries until the situation stabilizes." They also recommended that those currently in the region adhere to safety rules, follow local authorities' instructions, avoid crowded places and potentially dangerous areas, and always carry personal identification and communication devices.
Against the backdrop of escalating events in the Middle East, Somon Air announced it would suspend flights on the Dushanbe–Tehran–Dushanbe route until March 31, and cancel Dushanbe–Dubai–Dushanbe flights until March 6.
