PRAGUE, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic is temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran, Iran, due to escalating military conflict between Israel and Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday.
Citing security concerns related to the hostilities affecting Iranian territory, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky decided to suspend the embassy's operations until further notice, the ministry said in a statement.
Czech citizens and their family members in need of urgent consular assistance in Iran are advised to contact the ministry's emergency line.
The move follows a sharp escalation in hostilities, which began with Israel's massive strikes on Iran on June 13. The escalation has fueled regional and global concerns over the potential for a broader, economically devastating confrontation.
Earlier this week, the Czech Republic repatriated 66 people from Israel with a military aircraft, after commercial flights between Prague and Tel Aviv were suspended due to the conflict. ■
