In a significant move, the Australian government has issued an urgent travel advisory, calling on its citizens in Iran to depart the country immediately. The warning, updated on Wednesday, cites a dangerously volatile security environment and the threat of escalating violent protests.
Immediate Departure Urged Amid Rising Tensions
The advisory from Canberra leaves no room for ambiguity. The Australian government explicitly stated, "If you're in Iran, you should leave as soon as possible." Officials highlighted the presence of ongoing, violent nationwide demonstrations that could intensify without any prior warning. The overall security scenario in the country was described as highly unstable and unpredictable.
Roots of the Unrest and Escalating Violence
This latest wave of public anger was triggered on December 28, initially fueled by merchant shutdowns in Tehran and widespread frustration over the severe rise in the cost of living. The protests have since spread from the capital to various other regions, with significant activity reported in western areas populated by Kurdish and Lor minorities.
The human cost is mounting. According to the Norway-based non-governmental organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 27 protesters have lost their lives, including five who were minors under the age of 18. Iranian authorities have also confirmed fatalities among security forces. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that a policeman was shot and killed on Tuesday.
A Familiar Pattern of Dissent
This unrest represents the most serious challenge to the Iranian establishment since the massive 2022–2023 protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. While the current demonstrations have not yet achieved the scale of those earlier movements or the 2009 election rallies, they powerfully underscore the growing economic despair and pressure felt by ordinary Iranians across the nation.
In a notable reaction to the crisis, President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday directed security forces to refrain from cracking down on protests driven by economic grievances. Following a cabinet meeting, Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, in a video released by the Mehr news agency, conveyed the president's order that "no security measures be taken against the demonstrators."
However, Ghaempanah drew a clear distinction, adding, "Those who carry firearms, knives and machetes and who attack police stations and military sites are rioters, and we must distinguish protesters from rioters." This statement indicates a targeted approach aimed at isolating violent actors while ostensibly permitting peaceful economic protest.
The Australian advisory places Iran in the highest risk category and reflects deep international concern about the potential for a rapid deterioration in the country's civil order.
