India Warns Citizens Not To 'Venture Out' In Iran Amid Deadly Protests: 'We're Watching...'

Last Updated:January 12, 2026, 16:33 IST

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India was watching the developments in Iran closely and urged Indian nationals not to "venture out" amid deadly protests.

At least 544 people have been killed in the ongoing protests in Iran. (AFP)

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday said India was keeping a close watch on the developments surrounding deadly protests in Iran, and warned Indian nationals not to “venture out" or find themselves in the middle of the disturbances.

During a special briefing after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s maiden visit to India, Misri said, “We are watching the developments in Iran… We have a significant community of expatriate Indians and also students from India in Iran."

“Despite the restrictions in place, our embassy has been able to reach out to the student community and find that they are all doing well and have not faced any difficulties thus far. We have advised all of our compatriots there not to venture out or find themselves in the middle of the disturbances," he added.

His remarks came after the protests in Iran, which began on December 28 over rising prices, have since evolved into the largest challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership since 2022. More than 500 people have been killed and over 10,600 people detained over two weeks of protests, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

The HRANA said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces. Tensions have further escalated as US President Donald Trump has renewed warnings of possible US intervention in support of protesters. In response, Tehran has threatened retaliation against American military assets in the region.

Trump on Sunday said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, insisted “the situation has come under total control" and said Iran was “open to diplomacy".

The US-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said it had received “eyewitness accounts and credible reports indicating that hundreds of protesters have been killed across Iran during the current internet shutdown".

Iranian authorities accused the US and Israel of fomenting trouble and called for a nationwide rally on Monday to condemn “terrorist actions led by the United States and Israel," as per state media.

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