FREETOWN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The government of Sierra Leone has evacuated 24 nationals, including embassy staff, from Iran amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, a senior official told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Musa Timothy Kabba said the evacuees were safely relocated to Armenia under emergency measures activated by the ministry in response to the deteriorating security situation.

The group comprises 14 students, one private citizen, three Sierra Leonean diplomats, and six locally recruited staff members of the Sierra Leone Embassy in Tehran, he said.

"The safety and welfare of Sierra Leonean citizens remain our top priority," Kabba said, noting that the government acted swiftly after assessing the risks posed by the deteriorating security environment.

He said the foreign ministry had triggered emergency protocols and continues to closely monitor developments across the Middle East through its diplomatic missions.

Kabba added that Sierra Leoneans residing in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Israel have been reported safe, according to updates from the country's missions in those states.

Given the fluid security environment, the government has urged all Sierra Leoneans in affected areas to strictly comply with local safety directives, including curfews and emergency procedures, and to maintain regular contact with their families and Sierra Leone's diplomatic missions.

Kabba reaffirmed that the government will continue to provide updates as necessary while remaining actively engaged to safeguard the interests of its nationals abroad. ■