As unrest against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei intensified and turned violent in recent days, resulting in multiple fatalities, the Indian government on Monday issued an advisory urging its citizens to remain extremely cautious while in Iran and to defer all non-essential travel to the country.
The advisory comes amid a week of escalating protests across Iran, where demonstrations against the Islamic regime have spread to several regions and reportedly led to the deaths of a number of people. The situation has grown more volatile despite warnings from the Trump administration last week, which cautioned Tehran against using lethal force on peaceful demonstrators.
US President Donald Trump had earlier warned that Washington would intervene if Iranian authorities continued to kill protesters. “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” he had said, sharply raising tensions around the unfolding crisis.
With the possibility of further instability and even external military action now looming—particularly in light of recent developments involving Iran’s ally Venezuela—India has advised its nationals to avoid all travel to Iran that is not absolutely necessary until further notice.
In its detailed travel advisory, the government said that Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin currently in Iran should remain vigilant, stay away from areas witnessing protests or demonstrations, and keep themselves updated by regularly following news reports as well as official updates issued by the Indian Embassy in Tehran through its website and social media platforms.
Indians residing in Iran on long-term or resident visas have also been advised to ensure that they are registered with the Indian Embassy, if they have not already completed the process, to facilitate communication and assistance if the situation deteriorates further.
The warning follows renewed remarks by President Trump on Sunday, in which he again cautioned Iran that it would face severe consequences if violence against protesters continued. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the US was closely monitoring developments and reiterated that Iran would be “hit very hard” if more lives were lost.
Iran is currently witnessing its most significant wave of protests in nearly three years, driven largely by soaring inflation, a collapsing currency and mounting economic hardship. The unrest began on December 28, when shopkeepers protested the government’s handling of the currency crisis, and has since spread across the country, with reported deaths in places such as Lordegan, Kuhdasht and Isfahan, underscoring the widening scale and intensity of the turmoil.
