New Zealand urges its citizens to leave Iran amid ongoing protests

ANKARA (AA) – New Zealand on Wednesday urged its citizen in Iran to leave the country amid a worsening security situation due to the ongoing protests.

In a statement, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealanders currently in Iran are advised to leave as protests are continuing throughout the country, and a number of foreign nationals have been arrested.

“The new advice for Iran reiterates the existing ‘Do Not Travel’ warning, and adds that due to the potential for violent civil unrest, the risk of arrest or detention and the volatile security situation in the region, the risk to safety in Iran is significant,” said Mahuta.

She advised her citizens in Iran to stay away from all demonstrations, rallies, and large public gatherings as they could turn violent with little warning.

“New Zealanders in Iran should stay away from any areas where police or security forces are deployed as their presence alone could be misinterpreted,” she said.

“In all cases of arbitrary arrest or detention in Iran, the ability of the government to provide consular assistance through the embassy and other official channels is extremely limited. It’s important that people considering going to Iran think seriously about these risks and heed the travel advice," Mahuta added.

Iran has found itself in the midst of mass protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody last month.

Amini died on Sept. 16 under mysterious circumstances after being detained by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating Iran's Islamic dress code.

Iranian officials have attempted to cast the young woman's death as the result of a heart attack she suffered while in custody, but that explanation has fallen flat with protesters and her family saying she was brutally beaten to death.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid