‘Tanzanians safe in Israel-Iran conflict’

By Guardian Reporter , The Guardian
Published at 09:59 AM Jun 21 2025
‘Tanzanians safe in  Israel-Iran conflict’
Photo: File
‘Tanzanians safe in Israel-Iran conflict’

THE government has assured the public that all Tanzanian citizens residing in either Israel or Iran remain safe, with no reports of death or injury following an escalating conflict between the two countries.

Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, the Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation minister, said in a statement on Thursday, affirming that the government is closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to facilitate safe repatriation of those living in affected regions.

“Through our embassies in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (which represents Tanzania in Iran), Kuwait and Israel, we are continuing with efforts to register all Tanzanian nationals currently residing in those countries,” he said.

Data available to the ministry shows that there are 168 Tanzanians living in Iran, with 134 students based in Qom, a key academic and religious city, and 34 more in the capital, Tehran, while Israel has over 200 Tanzanians, comprising embassy staff, students and workers employed in various sectors.

Of these, 50 individuals have formally registered to receive logistical support from the government for their safe return to Tanzania, the statement noted, describing the security environment in Israel as volatile.

The Tanzanian embassy building in Tel Aviv was not hit in recent Iranian strikes and is operating under heightened precautionary measures, it specified, pointing at close coordination with local and international partners including the two countries, to prepare emergency evacuation procedures should the security situation deteriorate.

Operational procedures are in place to ensure that Tanzanians in these high-risk areas can be repatriated in a timely and safe manner, the statement emphasized.

The government encourages all Tanzanians in Iran and Israel who have not yet registered to do so as quickly as possible, to allow the government to account for and support all of them comprehensively, it said.

The Israel-Iran conflict, which took a sharp turn Friday last week, has led to heightened regional tensions and triggered widespread concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in both countries.

In response, numerous governments across the world have initiated evacuation plans for their citizens, particularly those residing near intense bombardment zones like the capital cities of Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Though direct attacks were largely directed at strategic military installations, public facilities and residential areas were hit, leading to intermittent availability of transport services in particular, it said.

Tanzania joins a growing number of nations taking proactive diplomatic and logistical measures to ensure the welfare of their nationals in the Middle East.

“Our priority is the safety of every Tanzanian abroad,” the statement intoned “We remain committed to keeping citizens informed and protected during these challenging times,” it added.