Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan’s Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to postpone all non-essential visits to Iran in view of the worsening security situation in the neighbouring country.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Foreign Office said Pakistani nationals should avoid unnecessary travel to Iran until conditions stabilise, citing concerns for personal safety amid ongoing unrest.
Pakistanis currently living in Iran have been advised to remain highly cautious, limit movement, and stay alert. The Foreign Office also urged them to maintain close contact with Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Tehran, Zahedan and Mashhad for assistance if needed.
Emergency contact numbers for the Pakistani missions were shared to ensure rapid communication with citizens during the crisis.
Iran has witnessed widespread demonstrations for nearly two weeks, driven largely by public anger over rising living costs. The unrest has prompted authorities to impose restrictions on internet access in several areas.
According to the Iranian human rights organisation HRANA, at least 62 people have been killed since the protests began on December 28. The deaths reportedly include 48 protesters and 14 members of the security forces.
Read More: Death Toll Climbs in Iran’s Nationwide Protests, People Experience Internet Blackout
The situation has drawn international attention. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump warned that Washington was prepared to respond if Iranian security forces used deadly force against demonstrators.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the unrest on Friday, describing the protesters as “vandals” and “saboteurs” in his first public remarks on the issue. Speaking on state television, he accused Trump of being responsible for the deaths of more than a thousand Iranians, an apparent reference to last year’s conflict involving Israel, which was backed by the United States.
Khamenei also said that the US president would eventually meet the same fate as Iran’s former imperial rulers, who were overthrown during the 1979 revolution.
Read More: Iran Unrest Escalates Amid Economic Hardship
Trump, responding on Friday, issued a fresh warning to Iran’s leadership, saying the US would respond forcefully if protesters were fired upon. He also expressed concern for the safety of demonstrators, describing Iran as a particularly dangerous environment at present.
