The Indian Embassy in Tehran on Wednesday issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to leave Iran amid intensifying protests and growing violence across the country. The advisory asked Indians, including tourists, students, pilgrims, and businesspersons, to remain cautious and depart using available means such as commercial flights. It also advised citizens and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) to avoid protest sites, stay in touch with the embassy, and closely follow local developments.
According to a US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the death toll linked to the unrest has climbed to at least 2,571. The organisation has previously been considered a reliable source during earlier periods of unrest in Iran.
Iran is witnessing its most significant wave of protests in years, with demonstrations expanding beyond economic grievances into broader opposition to the Islamic theocratic system. The unrest comes as the country faces mounting economic strain, worsened by the reimposition of United Nations sanctions in September over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Iranian rial has sharply depreciated, now trading at around 1.4 million to the US dollar, deepening the country’s economic crisis. The currency collapse has driven up prices of essential goods, including food staples such as rice and meat, while inflation remains close to 40 per cent annually.
Political uncertainty has further intensified amid questions over leadership. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, who has held power since 1989, has no designated successor and was reportedly absent from public view for several days during and after recent hostilities, adding to public unease.
Iran’s leadership and military establishment have also been weakened following a 12-day conflict with Israel in June and subsequent US airstrikes targeting nuclear facilities. The clashes reportedly resulted in the deaths of senior military figures, significant damage to air defence systems, and a reduced missile arsenal, compounding the challenges facing the country as protests continue to spread.
