Abandoned Afghan, Iranian, Venezuelan Embassies Stand Neglected in DC

In Washington, several foreign embassies remain abandoned, showing the impact of decades of shifting diplomacy and political tensions. The State Department is responsible for taking care of these buildings, even when the United States no longer has diplomatic ties with the countries.

One example is the Syrian embassy, which was closed in 2014 after civil war erupted. Recently, the US announced its symbolic reopening following a White House visit by Syria’s new president. However, the building is in poor condition and could take years to restore, according to former Syrian diplomat Bassam Barabandi. Overgrown vegetation and damaged interiors reflect years of neglect.

Nearby, the Afghan embassy in Kalorama remains empty after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Postal worker Trina Thompson described seeing the building disappear from her routine rounds in March 2022. Former Afghan deputy ambassador Abdul Hadi Nejrabi recalled handing the keys to the US State Department after the embassy officially closed, marking the end of consular services for Afghan citizens in Washington.

The State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions is tasked with protecting and maintaining embassies, even for countries with which the US has no relations. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, countries must respect and protect foreign embassies in such cases.

Currently, the US maintains 29 such buildings, including three linked to Afghanistan, six to Venezuela, and 11 to Iran. These countries have no current diplomatic relations with the United States. The list also includes Chinese and Russian embassies, though some Russian properties are off-limits due to past political disputes. The Russian government has criticized these restrictions as illegal under the Vienna Convention, calling them “bordering on theft.”

The Iranian embassy in Kalorama has been empty since 1980 following the Islamic Revolution. Once a hub for diplomatic events, it now stands as a reminder of lingering US-Iran tensions. Similarly, other properties, including former Venezuelan embassies, show the long-term effects of interrupted diplomacy.

These abandoned embassies highlight how geopolitical shifts and diplomatic conflicts can leave significant real estate neglected, reflecting decades of international tension in the heart of Washington, DC.