Australia, New Zealand evacuate some citizens, diplomats from Israel, Iran

Australia has evacuated a small number of citizens from Israel, and New Zealand embassy staff have left Iran, but the two governments warn that closed airspace limits how they can assist thousands of citizens requesting help to leave the conflict zone.

Around 1,500 Australians in Iran have registered for assistance, with another 1,200 Australians in Israel seeking to leave, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong says.

The Australian government evacuated a small group from Israel through a land border crossing yesterday, and would look for more opportunities today, Wong tells reporters.

“There are real limits, hard limits, on what the government can do. The airspace remains closed,” she says.

Australians in Iran are advised to leave if it is safe to, or shelter in place.

“We’ve been hoping to get the capacity for aircraft to get in and out, but at this stage airports and the airspace are still closed. In Israel, we have additional options, whereas in Iran it is very difficult,” she tells the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in a radio interview.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand is doing all it can to help its citizens in the face of “very serious practical constraints”, and is providing advice on overland border exits.

New Zealand has temporarily closed its Tehran embassy and evacuated two staff and their family by land to Azerbaijan, he says.

“An opportunity arose overnight to get our embassy staff out of Iran, as part of a convoy alongside government officials from other countries,” he says.

New Zealand’s consular partners are considering evacuation flights when airspace reopens and the government is working closely with Australia, he adds.