Govt Plans Overland Evacuation Of Malaysians From Iran As Israel Attack Continues
However, four Malaysian students have opted to remain in Iran.
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The government is preparing to evacuate Malaysians from Iran amid the threat of open war sparked by Israel's ongoing military aggression
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the evacuation will involve overland travel northeast of Tehran towards the Turkmenistan border, before continuing to the city of Ashgabat, according to the New Straits Times.
Nineteen people are expected to be evacuated, including nine Malaysian embassy staff and their families, one Malaysian permanent resident, two Iranian couples, and a Singaporean citizen.
However, four Malaysian students have opted to remain in Iran.
"Three are currently in Qom, while one is in Isfahan. We will obtain an indemnity letter from each individual who declines to be evacuated," Mohamad said.
He added that, as of 18 June, 20 Malaysians were registered with the Malaysian Embassy in Tehran.
Malaysia's Ambassador to Iran, Khairi Omar, said the situation in Tehran is tense and rapidly evolving, but currently still under control
He confirmed that all Malaysians are safe and continuing to take precautions.
"Phone lines, Internet access, and other communication channels are severely affected and unstable," he said.
Government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the evacuation mission is expected to be carried out by Friday, adding that preparations are underway as regional violence escalates.
"God willing, they are expected to depart within the next day or two, most likely on 20 June," he told a press conference yesterday.
The evacuation comes amid an increasingly volatile situation sparked by Israel's direct military attacks on Iran
On 1 April, Israel bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing several senior officials. The strike, widely condemned as a breach of international law, marked a significant escalation and provoked a direct Iranian response: a large-scale drone and missile attack on Israeli territory, the first of its kind.
Since then, Israel has intensified its threats, claiming, without presenting verified evidence, that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
The claim bears a striking resemblance to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, where the justification of "Weapons of Mass Destruction" later proved to be unfounded.
Malaysia has long rejected Israel's tactics and occupation policies.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly labelled Israel's actions, from the destruction of Gaza to these latest regional strikes, as war crimes.
He has also been vocal in condemning any normalisation of ties with Tel Aviv, stating that Malaysia will not compromise on its support for the Palestinian people.
A firefighter calls out to his colleagues at the scene of an explosion in a residential compound in northern Tehran, Iran, on 13 June, 2025.
Image via Vahid Salemi/AP Photo