Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced Iran embassy to relocate to Moldova
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced Iran embassy to relocate to Moldova
The Iranian embassy in Kyiv will relocate to Moldova due to Russia's bombardment of Ukrainian cities, according to a statement by the embassy.
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The Iranian embassy in Kyiv will relocate to neighbouring Moldova as Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensifies [Getty]
Iran's embassy in Kyiv has relocated to Moldova following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Tehran said in a statement on Tuesday.
Russia has bombarded cities in eastern Ukraine as part of its offensive, including the capital Kyiv forcing embassies to relocate overseas or to the western city of Lviv.
Iran has not decided to move its diplomats to neighbouring Moldova.
"Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the impossibility of continuing the embassy in Kyiv [sic], the Iranian government has decided to temporarily relocate the embassy to Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, until the situation normalizes," read the statement carried by the Fars news agency.
The move had been announced earlier by Manouchehr Moradi, Iran's ambassador to Kyiv and the country's charge d'affairs in Moldova. He said that "continuing to serve our compatriots is still the most important priority".
Iranians living in Ukraine have faced huge challenges in escaping the country since Moscow invaded its neighbour last month.
Iran began evacuating its nationals only after the first bombs rained down on Ukrainian cities, making it difficult for Tehran to provide concrete assistance to its citizens.
It has refrained from condemning Moscow for its violence in Ukraine. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei blamed the US and NATO for the invasion, and declared on 1 March that "Ukraine is a victim to America's policy of crisis instigation."
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