SEPANG — Twelve Malaysians remain in Iran and are under close watch by Malaysian authorities following a successful evacuation of 24 individuals over the weekend.

Ambassador Khairi Omar said the remaining Malaysians — including students and spouses of Iranians — are located in cities like Tehran and Shiraz, and their safety is being monitored.

Khairi, who led the evacuated group back to Kuala Lumpur via a 1,000km land route to Turkmenistan, described the journey as challenging but smooth. The Malaysian Embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed, and its staff recalled.

The evacuation came amid rising tensions after nine days of Israeli airstrikes in Iran and U.S. military involvement targeting Iranian nuclear sites.