Switzerland said it was closing the embassy in view of the “intensity of military operations” and the unstable situation on the ground.
The government in Bern said Friday that all expatriate staff safely left Iran and will return to Tehran as soon as the situation allows.
Since Tehran and Washington don’t have diplomatic relations, Switzerland has looked out for America’s interests in Iran since the 1979 US Embassy hostage crisis.
In its statement Friday, the Swiss government said it will continue to act as an intermediary transmitting communications “as and when both parties consider appropriate.”
Britain also said it was temporarily withdrawing UK staff from its embassy in Iran due to the ongoing security situation there.
"We have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely," Britain said on its travel advice website page for Iran.
Israel and Iran have been in conflict since last week after Israel launched military strikes on Iran, which retaliated with waves of missiles.
British foreign minister David Lammy has been urging the two sides to find a diplomatic solution and is in Geneva on Friday for nuclear talks with Iran and European counterparts.
