Seoul: The foreign ministry announced Sunday that it convened a meeting to assess measures to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals residing in the Middle East. This decision comes amid rising tensions after U.S. airstrikes targeted Iran's nuclear facilities.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina urged for comprehensive safety protocols for South Koreans in Iran during a meeting with officials from the foreign ministry and South Korean diplomatic missions. This meeting was prompted by U.S. President Donald Trump's statement on Saturday that U.S. warplanes had bombed three of Iran's key nuclear facilities, escalating the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

The foreign ministry reported that approximately 70 South Korean nationals are currently in Iran and around 460 in Israel. Since the conflict's inception on June 13, following Israel's airstrikes on Iran, 56 South Koreans and their Iranian family members have evacuated Iran, reaching safety in neighboring Turkmenistan.

Earlier, the foreign ministry expressed hope for a swift de-escalation of regional tensions following the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear sites. In a statement released post-attack, the ministry affirmed its commitment to monitoring the situation and participating in international efforts to reduce tensions. The statement emphasized South Korea's focus on resolving Iran's nuclear issue, emphasizing nuclear nonproliferation.