Austria suspends all its consular services in Iran until "conditions return to normal"
The Austrian embassy in Iran announced the suspension of all its consular services, referring to what it described as an "insurmountable obstacle." No further clarifications were provided, nor was a date set for the resumption of services. The embassy confirmed that previously submitted applications cannot be processed until further notice.
The embassy announcement also stated that all previously scheduled appointments for residence and settlement services have been canceled until the end of September. It advised applicants to book new appointments as soon as conditions return to normal, without specifying a date for that. The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet commented on the decision.
This step comes after several other embassies in Iran suspended their services earlier in the summer during the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed groups. While many missions have resumed their operations since then, some operations remain disrupted. For example, the Czech embassy suspended its services in June and has not fully reopened yet, despite its plan for a gradual return in September. Germany has reduced the number of its staff in Tehran but still provides consular services. The embassies of Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom suspended their operations in June but later resumed their services fully.
The suspension of foreign embassies has caused significant difficulties for Iranian travelers. Officials reported that between 3,000 and 4,000 passports were stuck in foreign embassies during and after the conflict. According to the Iranian Travel Agencies Association, up to 50,000 people are still affected due to some countries halting the issuance of tourist visas. Those who need to travel on specific dates, such as students preparing for the start of the school year and athletes participating in competitions or training camps, have been particularly impacted.
This turmoil coincided with broader political tensions. Iran faces a deadline at the end of August from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to reach an agreement with global powers regarding its controversial nuclear program. If no agreement is reached, UN sanctions may be reimposed through the 'snapback' mechanism. The Iranian foreign minister said this week that sanctions could indeed return, but he indicated that Tehran is working closely with Russia and China to prepare for such a possibility.