TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部), Taiwan's diplomatic agency, announced Wednesday (June 18) that airspace between Israel and Iran continues to be closed amid escalating regional tensions. Taiwanese officials have implemented emergency measures to evacuate citizens caught in the conflict zone, with diplomatic representatives working around the clock to secure safe passage for nationals stranded in both countries.
The Taipei Representative Office in Israel (駐以色列代表處), Taiwan's de facto embassy in the country, coordinated with its counterpart in Jordan to successfully evacuate 14 Taiwanese citizens across the Jordanian border on June 15. This diplomatic cooperation created a vital escape corridor for Taiwan nationals seeking to return home amid the regional instability. In subsequent operations, the representative office in Israel has orchestrated the safe passage of six additional Taiwanese citizens in two separate groups, guiding them along secure land routes into Jordan as aerial evacuation options remain unavailable.
The ministry has confirmed the successful evacuation of three Taiwanese nationals from Iran, who traversed dangerous land corridors to reach safety in Turkey. Officials maintain continuous coordination with the Taiwan Trade Center, Tehran (台貿中心), Taiwan's commercial representative office in Iran, and various diplomatic channels to facilitate additional evacuations for remaining citizens. In a strongly worded advisory, MOFA has urged Taiwanese nationals to indefinitely postpone any non-essential travel to both Israel and Iran, while recommending those currently in these countries maintain extreme caution and remain in regular contact with Taiwanese representatives.
For Taiwanese nationals facing emergencies in Israel, the ministry has established a dedicated crisis response line through the Taipei Representative Office's emergency services. Citizens stranded in Iran have been instructed to contact either the Taiwan representative office in Dubai or the Taiwan Trade Center in Tehran for immediate evacuation assistance and safety guidance. MOFA has additionally activated its 24-hour central emergency hotline in Taipei, staffed with crisis management specialists prepared to coordinate rescue operations and provide real-time information to concerned family members of those caught in the conflict zone. ◼