'Czechia stands with our allies': PM on Israeli-US strikes in Iran

Czech authorities are closely monitoring their citizens after Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted Iran early Friday, prompting Iranian missile and drone retaliation. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, three Czech nationals are currently in Iran, while approximately 150 are registered in Israel.

Officials stressed that there are no immediate plans for evacuation, though the rapidly evolving situation remains under close observation. Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka told iDNES.cz that embassy staff in Tehran are in contact with Czech citizens and are monitoring security developments.

“The airspace over Iran is closed, and our embassy is maintaining constant communication with the three Czechs in the country,” he said. Macinka confirmed that he spoke with his Israeli counterpart, who detailed that the Israeli and U.S. strikes were closely coordinated, targeting government and military sites.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as a preemptive response to an existential threat, while U.S. President Donald Trump said the strikes aim to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

According to reports, the attacks hit several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahán, and Tabríz. Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel, and airspace in Iran, Israel, and neighboring Iraq was temporarily closed.

In Israel, Czech Ambassador Veronika Kuchynova Šmigolová described the situation as calm but advised residents to follow civil defense guidance.

“Everyone this morning received a warning not to travel far and to stay close to shelters,” she said. Streets in major cities, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, were largely empty, reflecting heightened caution among residents.

The ambassador emphasized that evacuation flights for Czech citizens are not planned at this stage. She also noted that Israelis, having lived through two years of conflict in Gaza and other tensions, are accustomed to these emergency procedures.

In Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that three Czech nationals were registered in the DROZD system, a government database for citizens abroad.

“Although travel to the region has long been discouraged, we have been in contact with those in the country to ensure their safety,” Macinka said. He reiterated that the ministry continues to closely monitor developments, particularly in light of Iran’s immediate missile and drone response.

Czech politicians expressed varied reactions to the strikes, generally framing them as understandable in the context of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the country is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East following the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran, and emphasized the broader security risks posed by Iran’s nuclear program and support for terrorism.

“We are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, and at this moment our top priority is to ensure the safety of our citizens who are still in Iran,” Babiš wrote on X.

“The uncontrolled Iranian nuclear program and its support for terrorism pose a danger to us and to all of Europe. The Czech Republic therefore stands with our allies, and I believe that stability and peace will soon be restored in the region.”

“Iran has long threatened other countries in the region, tried to develop nuclear weapons, violated international security agreements, and killed its own people," ODS head Martin Kupka wrote on X. "If the Israeli and American strikes contribute to the fall of the Iranian regime, it will be good—for the population of Iran and the international community.”

Pirate Party leader Zdeněk Hřib offered a more cautious perspective, stressing the risks of escalation. “The goal of stopping Iran’s nuclear program is correct, but it is unfortunate that the U.S. has again taken unilateral action in violation of international law,” he said. He emphasized that Czech policy should align with NATO and EU coordination.