India issues travel advisory for Iran amid widespread protests

The Ministry of External Affairs on January 5, 2026, issued a travel advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to the Iran until further notice, citing recent developments in the country. Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin currently in Iran have been advised to exercise due caution, avoid areas witnessing protests or demonstrations, and closely monitor news updates as well as advisories issued through the Embassy of India in Tehran. Indian nationals residing in Iran on resident

visas have also been asked to register with the Indian embassy if they have not already done so.

The advisory comes as Iran faces its largest wave of protests in three years, marking the most serious unrest since 2022. Demonstrations began in Tehran on December 29, 2025, after merchants shut shops following a sharp fall in the Iranian rial, and quickly spread across cities and rural provinces. Students from at least 10 universities joined the protests, which later extended to multiple regions.

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Economic stress has been a major driver of public anger. The national currency has lost over half its value in about a year, with one US dollar costing roughly 1.4 million rials. Official inflation stood at 42.5% in December, while food prices rose 72% year-on-year and medical costs increased by nearly 50%.

The unrest follows months of pressure from water shortages, conflict-related shocks, and long-standing sanctions. Protests have been reported from cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad and Kermanshah, underlining the scale and spread of the turmoil.