'No threat to Indians in Iran': Tehran's envoy after MEA travel advisory

After India advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran, Tehran's envoy said the situation is under control and that Indian nationals face no threat

A day after India cautioned its citizens against travel to Iran, Tehran’s envoy to New Delhi on Tuesday said the situation in the Islamic Republic is under control and poses no threat to Indian citizens, ANI reported.

 

"I would like to state with full confidence that there is no threat to Indian citizens, like those of other countries residing in Iran,"  Mohammad Fathali, Iran's ambassador in India, told ANI.

 

On Monday, however, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a travel advisory for its citizens and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) living in Iran, urging caution and avoidance of non-essential travel amid fresh unrest in the country.

 

 

"In view of recent developments, Indian nationals are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran until further notice," the MEA said.

 

It advised Indian citizens and PIOs currently in Iran to exercise restraint and remain alert.

What's happening in Iran?

Iran has been witnessing protests for over a week, with thousands of Iranians voicing their anger over the country’s worsening economic situation. The demonstrations have claimed at least 35 lives and injured many more, according to a report by the Associated Press, citing data from a US-based Human Rights activist group.

 

The protests began after many shopkeepers in Tehran shut their stores last Sunday to protest the declining economy. The demonstrations soon spread to universities, prompting security officials to take coercive measures such as tear gas shelling and detentions.

 

The economic troubles surround Tehran as it remains under massive sanctions and diplomatic pressure from the US and its allies over its nuclear programme.

 

The World Bank has projected that Iran’s gross domestic product could shrink by 1.7 per cent in 2025 and 2.8 per cent in 2026, Reuters reported.

 

Data from the Iranian Statistics Centre show that currency depreciation has fuelled inflation, which rose to 42.2 per cent in December, with food prices up 72 per cent and health and medical items increasing 50 per cent year-on-year, the Associated Press reported.

 

While the demonstrations have been termed the biggest since 2022, understanding the scale of this latest round of protests has been difficult, as there has been little information from state media and journalists in Iran, according to the Associated Press.