Last minute meeting at the MFA on the situation in Iran. Romanians urged “to leave this country immediately”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Țoiu, convened a coordination meeting with the MAE team on Wednesday, in the context of the security developments in Iran, and the institution urged the Romanians who are there “to leave this country immediately, by any existing safe route”.

The MFA meeting, attended by Romania's ambassador to Iran, Mirela Grecu, and the heads of Romania's diplomatic missions in the Middle East, aimed at the “detailed analysis of recent developments” in the Middle East “and the evaluation of possible scenarios, as well as the calibration of diplomatic action options and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms”, according to the announcement made by the institution.

“During the consultations with Romanian diplomats in the region, a priority was to ensure that the diplomatic missions are prepared to respond adequately to any scenario, in the context of the current tensions. Also, issues related to the upcoming meeting of the Council of Foreign Affairs of the European Union, scheduled at the end of this month, on the agenda of which the situation in Iran and the sanctions regime will occupy an important place, were addressed,” stated the MFA.

What Oana Țoiu said

The head of Romanian diplomacy condemned the repression faced by the protesters in Iran.

“These days, brave people risk their lives and freedom for a better future in their country. We join the firm condemnation of the acts of violence and repression against them. The freedom to protest peacefully, the freedom of association and the freedom to communicate are violated. We know from our own experience what these rights mean in the history of a country,” said Minister Oana Țoiu, quoted in the statement.

The MAE stated that it conveyed the concerns of Iran's chargé d'affaires in Bucharest. The diplomatic mission of Romania in Tehran “is in close coordination with the ambassadors of the member states of the European Union, including in terms of compliance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations”.

“The protection of Romanian citizens remains a central priority for the MFA. The Ministry is prepared to provide rapid consular assistance, regardless of the evolution of the security situation. Currently, there are no requests for repatriation from the approximately 400 Romanian citizens in Iran. The MFA maintains constant contact with them, including by facilitating the means of communication with Romania, using the resources of the diplomatic mission,” the MFA concluded.

“Leave the country immediately!”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised the travel warning level for Iran “to the maximum level 9/9 – LEAVE THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY!”, pointing out that there is an “increased risk of escalation” there.

The institution recommends Romanians in Iran “to leave this country immediately, by any existing safe route. From the information at this moment, there are still flights available to leave Iranian territory.”

“At the same time, the MAE emphasizes that Romanian citizens who have already planned trips to Iran in the next period, are strongly advised to cancel them”, the statement also states.

The MFA recommends Romanians who are in Iran “to signal their presence at the Embassy of Romania in Tehran, at the mission's emergency phone number: +98 21 77647570. Currently, the phone number works only by GSM call, calling it through messaging applications being impossible due to the lack of internet access”.

“In the event that Romanian citizens encounter difficulties in contacting the diplomatic mission, alternatively, they can call the telephone number +98 21 77539041, the calls being forwarded to the Contact and Support Center for Romanian Citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and taken over by the Call Center operators on a permanent basis”, the press release states.