Demonstrators and activists rally in Paris in support of nationwide protests in Iran.
Credit: Reuters photo
As Iran continues to grapple with the chaos that was sparked after nationwide protests rocked the Islamic republic, reports of arrest of Indian and Afghan nationals began circulating on social media. On Sunday, these rumors were laid to rest when the Ambassador of Iran to India, Mohammad Fathali, brushed them aside.
The statement came amid mounting concerns regarding the safety of Indian students in Iran in the backdrop of protests. Over the past two weeks, citizens of the Islamic republic have taken to the streets to challenge the rising cost of living.
However, this issue has now snowballed, with demonstrators showing a general dissatisfaction with the regime.
At least 544 people have been killed during the demonstrations over the past 15 days.
Ambassador Fathali took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "The news circulated on some foreign X accounts about Iran’s developments, is totally false. I request all interested people to get their news from the reliable sources."
On January 5, New Delhi urged Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran and also advised Indian citizens in Iran to exercise due caution and avoid travelling to areas witnessing protests or demonstrations.
During his weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about the situation in Iran.
"We are closely following the developments in Iran. As you would have seen, we have also issued an advisory. We have some 10,000 Indian nationals and people of Indian origin in that country," Jaiswal said.
The All India Medical Students Association and the Federation of All India Medical Associations said that all Indian students currently studying in Iran are safe.
Mohammad Momin Khan, vice president of AIMSA and FAIMA Doctors Association, said, "All our students are safe. There is no need to panic."
According to Khan, senior officials and the Indian Embassy in Iran are closely tracking developments and are in constant contact with students and local authorities.