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Bulgaria closes Tehran embassy as Iran-Israel conflict intensifies

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 19, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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Bulgaria closes Tehran embassy as Iran-Israel conflict intensifies
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SOFIA (Reuters) -Bulgaria has closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated diplomatic staff and their families to neighbouring Azerbaijan as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, Bulgarian

Bulgaria Shuts Down Tehran Embassy Amid Escalating Iran-Israel Tensions

SOFIA (Reuters) -Bulgaria has closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated diplomatic staff and their families to neighbouring Azerbaijan as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told local media on Friday. 

Zhelyazkov said 12 people from the embassy and their families were evacuated after Israel advised residents to evacuate the third district of Tehran. 

"The Bulgarian embassy is in the immediate vicinity of this area and we decided to have our diplomats leave the country," he said, adding that the embassy would continue to operate from Baku. 

The staff drove six hours in a convoy to the border, where they waited another six hours because of border checks, he said.

(Reporting by Stoyan Nenov in Sofia, Angeliki Koutantou in Athens and Daria Sito-Sucic in Sarajevo; Writing by Edward McAllister; Editing by Toby Chopra)

Key Takeaways

  • Bulgaria has closed its embassy in Tehran.
  • Diplomatic staff evacuated to Azerbaijan.
  • Closure due to Iran-Israel conflict escalation.
  • Embassy operations continue from Baku.
  • Evacuation followed Israel's safety advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Bulgaria close its embassy in Tehran?
Bulgaria closed its embassy in Tehran due to the intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel, which raised safety concerns for its diplomatic staff.
How many people were evacuated from the Bulgarian embassy?
A total of 12 people, including embassy staff and their families, were evacuated from the Bulgarian embassy in Tehran.
Where will the Bulgarian embassy operate after leaving Tehran?
The Bulgarian embassy will continue its operations from Baku, Azerbaijan, following the evacuation from Tehran.
What challenges did the embassy staff face during evacuation?
The staff faced significant delays during evacuation, including a six-hour wait at the border due to border checks after a six-hour drive.
What prompted the evacuation of the Bulgarian embassy staff?
The evacuation was prompted by Israel advising residents to leave the third district of Tehran, where the Bulgarian embassy is located.

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