MEA Issues Travel Advisory for Iran, Urges Indians to Avoid Non-Essential Travel

Key Takeaways:

• MEA advises Indians against travel to Iran until further notice.
• Indian nationals in Iran must register with Indian missions.
• Advisory issued amid ongoing protests and regional tensions.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a fresh advisory, urging Indian citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran. The advisory, citing the “prevailing situation,” also calls on Indians currently in the country to register with Indian missions for their safety.

Official Advisory and Contact Details

“In view of the prevailing situation in Iran, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran until further notice. All those who are currently residing in Iran are requested to get in touch with Indian Embassies in Tehran or Consulates in Bandar Abbas and Zahidan and register themselves,” the MEA said in a statement.

“They are also advised to observe utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum,” it added.

The MEA provided the following contact details for registration and assistance:

• Indian Embassy, Tehran: +98-21-88755103-5 or +98-9904931131 (WhatsApp) | cons.tehran@mea.gov.in
• Consulate General, Bandar Abbas: +98-9173635792 or +98-9173635793 | cgi.bandarabbas@mea.gov.in
• Consulate, Zahidan: +98-9173619662 | cons.zahidan@mea.gov.in

Context: Regional Tensions and Domestic Unrest

This advisory follows an earlier one issued on April 12, which cautioned against travel to both Iran and Israel during a period of heightened tensions. That warning came a day after Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile attack on Israel.

The current advisory, however, is also linked to the prolonged domestic unrest in Iran. The protests, triggered by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody, have continued to challenge the nation’s leadership. Human rights groups report hundreds killed and thousands arrested in what is seen as a major challenge to the establishment since 1979.

Iranian authorities have attributed the protests to foreign interference, accusing the US and Israel of destabilisation efforts.