The Australian government has urged travelers to leave Iran immediately as nationwide protests enter their eleventh day and continue to turn deadly, with reports of widespread arrests amid a heavy security crackdown.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Smartraveller website continues to warn citizens against traveling to Iran, advising those already in Iran to leave the country “as soon as possible”.
“There are ongoing violent nationwide protests that could escalate further without notice. The security forces’ response to the protests has been severe, and many protesters and bystanders have been injured, killed or detained,” the website said.
Human rights groups say unrest in Iran has escalated sharply, with growing concerns about the safety of citizens as demonstrations spread across the country.
At least 38 people, including 29 civilians, four members of the security forces and five protesters under the age of 18, were killed during the protests, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
The group also reports that 2,217 people have been arrested or identified by security forces in the past eleven days.
Iranian authorities have not confirmed the figures. Some officials have described those who took part in the demonstrations as “rioters” as the government moves to contain the unrest.
Iran’s Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i said: “Protest is different from rioting. In fact, we have a duty to provide security and guarantee the safety of those who have legitimate and lawful protests.”
“We reassure our dear people and promise that we will confront the rioters to the very last person, we will confront those who stand behind them to the very last person,” he said.
The recent demonstrations are said to have been largely caused by the the country’s ongoing economic crisisafter many shopkeepers in a shopping center went on strike and started protesting. Since then, protests have spread to at least 111 cities in Iran, according to HRANA, with demonstrators continuing to chant anti-regime slogans.
Iran’s rial currency lost almost half its value against the US dollar by 2025, with inflation reaching 42.5 percent in December in a country where unrest has flared repeatedly in recent years and faces US sanctions and threats of Israeli attacks.
Price swings are crippling sales of some imported goods, with both sellers and buyers preferring to postpone transactions until prospects become clearer.
Protests have intensified in several parts of the country in recent days, with local reports indicating internet access has been cut in several cities.
During previous protests in Iran, authorities cut off or severely limited connectivity.
Smartraveller has warned Australians in Iran to “avoid large public gatherings, demonstrations and protests and follow the advice of local authorities”.
“Australians, including dual nationals, are at high risk of detention. The security situation is volatile.”
An SBS News investigation in October 2024 found at least two Australian nationals were being held in Iranian prisons. Their current status and whether they have since been released remains unknown.
“If you remain in Iran despite our advice, you are responsible for your own safety,” Smarttraveller said.
“Australian Embassy operations have been suspended. Our ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is extremely limited.”
In August, DFAT suspended all embassy operations in Tehran and moved diplomats to a third country after the Labor government announced that Iran was responsible for two alleged attacks on the Jewish community in Melbourne and Sydney, and expelled the Iranian ambassador from Australia.
— With additional reporting by Reuters
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