Repatriation operations continue throughout Middle East
The Portuguese government has ordered the temporary closure of the embassy in Tehran and said that repatriation operations are continuing in the Middle East, with seven more Portuguese nationals having been removed from Iran today.
The announcement was made by Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, in parliament, on the sidelines of the debate on the programme of the XXV Constitutional Government.
In a short statement, Rangel wanted to signal that “the repatriation operations in the various locations in the Middle East are continuing”.
“But today the operation in Iran has been completed, although its final phase is still underway, seven more Portuguese citizens have left and, as a result, I have ordered the temporary closure of the embassy in Tehran due to the seriousness of the current situation.”
Asked how long this closure might last, the minister said he could not predict.
“I wanted to emphasise that this closure will be temporary, there will be a retreat to another country where we have an embassy and, as soon as possible, the embassy will be reopened,” he said.
Rangel also made a point of giving “very special thanks” to two diplomats: chargé d’affaires André Oliveira, who was on holiday on Friday and returned on Saturday morning to lead this operation, and also to senior technician Hélder Lourenço, who was on a special diplomatic mission.
“Portuguese diplomats – I’ve had this experience in Ukraine, I’ve had it in the Middle East, I’ve also had it in Africa – in very, very complicated situations, are always present, often risking their lives,” he said.
The Portuguese government has been advising that people should not travel to the Middle East since the Hamas massacre of Israelis on October, 7, 2023. But the situation has now simply become a great deal worse following Israel’s bombing of Iranian military and nuclear facilities on Friday June 13.
According to the Iranian regime, Israel’s attacks have so far killed at least 224 people and injured more than a thousand.
In retaliation, Iran has launched successive missile attacks on Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, which, according to the Israeli government have killed at least 24 people.
LUSA
