Pakistan issues travel advisory for Iran amid unrest

Pakistan advised its citizens on Saturday to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran, citing security concerns as unrest continues in the neighboring country.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the advisory was issued in the interest of the safety and security of Pakistani nationals and would remain in force until further notice.

Pakistanis currently residing in Iran were urged to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, limit non-essential movement and stay in close contact with Pakistan’s diplomatic missions, the statement said.

The Foreign Office also shared emergency contact details for the Pakistani embassy in Tehran and consulates in Zahedan and Mashhad to facilitate assistance if required.

Iran has been rocked by protests that began escalating from Jan. 3, driven by worsening economic conditions and a steep slide in the rial, with unrest spreading across several cities and reports of multiple deaths among protesters and security forces.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday struck a defiant tone, saying the Islamic Republic would “not back down” in the face of the demonstrations. In remarks broadcast on state television, he described protesters as “vandals” and “saboteurs”.

State television later aired footage of large counter-protests in several Iranian cities, showing crowds chanting slogans in support of the authorities.