New Delhi: A day after India issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran, Tehran’s envoy to New Delhi on Tuesday assured that the situation in the country is under control and that Indian nationals face no threat.
Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, said that Indian citizens living in Iran are safe despite the ongoing unrest. “I would like to state with full confidence that there is no threat to Indian citizens, like those of other countries residing in Iran,” Fathali told ANI.
The statement came shortly after the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a travel advisory in view of the evolving situation in Iran. The MEA advised Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to the Islamic Republic until further notice and urged Indians and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) currently in Iran to exercise caution, remain alert, and follow local advisories.
Iran has been witnessing widespread protests for over a week, triggered by worsening economic conditions. Thousands of people have taken to the streets across several cities, expressing anger over inflation, unemployment, and economic mismanagement. According to a report by the Associated Press, citing a US-based human rights group, at least 35 people have lost their lives and many others have been injured during the demonstrations.
The protests reportedly began in Tehran after shopkeepers shut down their businesses to protest the declining economy. The unrest later spread to universities and other areas, prompting security forces to respond with measures such as tear gas deployment and detentions.
Iran’s economic crisis has been exacerbated by continued international sanctions and diplomatic pressure, particularly from the United States and its allies, over Tehran’s nuclear programme. The World Bank has projected that Iran’s gross domestic product (GDP) could contract by 1.7 per cent in 2025 and 2.8 per cent in 2026.
Official data from the Iranian Statistics Centre indicate that inflation remains a major concern. In December, inflation stood at 42.2 per cent, with food prices surging by 72 per cent and health and medical costs rising by nearly 50 per cent year-on-year, according to the Associated Press.
Although the current protests are being described as the largest since 2022, assessing their full scale remains difficult due to limited reporting by state media and restrictions on journalists within Iran.
Amid these developments, Indian authorities continue to closely monitor the situation, while Iran has reiterated assurances regarding the safety of foreign nationals, including Indians, residing in the country.
