India's embassy in Tehran has advised Indian nationals to leave Iran using available transport, including commercial flights, against the backdrop of renewed anti-government protests across the country.
The advisory issued on Monday also asked Indian students, pilgrims, businesspersons, and tourists to keep their passports and identity documents readily available, and to contact the embassy for any assistance.
The embassy reiterated its January 14 advisory urging Indian citizens to avoid traveling to Iran and for those already there to leave at the earliest.
Fresh protests erupted over the weekend, with Iranian students shouting anti-government slogans and clashing with counter-protesters on Saturday, according to AP. Demonstrations continued on Sunday.
The protests began on December 28 over rising inflation but expanded to more than 100 towns, with demonstrators demanding an end to clerical rule. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 6,876 people have died in the crackdown.
On February 5, India's Minister of State for External Affairs told parliament that an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 Indian nationals are in Iran, but they are not considered "stranded." No Indian has been reported missing or killed during the protests.
The unrest comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US, with President Donald Trump stating he was considering a "limited strike" on Iran, the BBC reported. The US and European allies claim Iran is developing nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies.
