India urges citizens in Iran to leave amid rising tensions

New Delhi: India on Wednesday urged all its citizens living in Iran to leave the country by any available means. This warning comes amid rising tensions regarding a potential military intervention by the United States in response to Tehran's actions against nationwide protests, which have resulted in the deaths of over 2,500 people.

In a fresh advisory, the Indian embassy in Tehran urged all Indians, including students, pilgrims, business persons and tourists, to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights.

According to estimates, about 10,000 Indians, including students, are currently living in Iran.

The mission also urged all Indian citizens and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) to exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations and stay in contact with the embassy.

It also urged the Indian nationals to have their travel and immigration documents, including passports, readily available. Indians living in Iran on resident visas were also advised to register with the embassy.

In case any Indian national is unable to register due to internet disruptions in Iran, their families in India are requested to do so, the mission said.

"In view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran (students, pilgrims, business persons and tourists) are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights," the embassy said.

India's advisory came amid rising tensions in Iran and the region after Trump indicated military action if Tehran continues its crackdown on the protesters.

"If they hang them, you're going to see some things... We will take extreme action if they do such a thing," the US president said. 

In a message to the protesters, Trump said on Tuesday that "help is on the way". The US president has already announced a 25 per cent tariff on countries that trade with Tehran.

The protests began late last month in Tehran after the Iranian currency rial plunged to record lows. The protests have since spread to all 31 provinces, evolving from an agitation against economic woes to a demand for political change.

Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) advised Indians to avoid travelling to Iran. "In view of the ongoing developments in Iran, Indian nationals are once again strongly advised to avoid travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran until further notice," it said.

In a previous advisory issued on January 5, the MEA urged its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran.

The overall situation in Iran in the last few days has deteriorated dramatically as the death toll from the nationwide protests has increased to over 2,500, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.