The Canadian government has advised its citizens to leave Iran, warning against all travel to the country amid escalating anti-government protests.
In a travel advisory published on Tuesday, Canada said the security situation in Iran had become increasingly volatile due to nationwide demonstrations, regional tensions, and the risk of arbitrary detention.
“Avoid all travel to Iran due to ongoing nationwide demonstrations, tensions in the region, the high risk of arbitrary detention and the unpredictable enforcement of local laws,” the advisory reads.
The government warned that Iranian authorities have arrested and detained individuals, including foreign and dual nationals, to exert political or diplomatic pressure on other governments.
“You should leave Iran now if you can do so safely,” Canada said, adding that its ability to provide consular assistance in the country is “extremely limited”.
While noting that many airlines have suspended flights to and from Iran, the advisory said overland exits remain available, with land borders to Armenia and Turkey still open.
The advisory added that Canadian passport holders do not require visas to enter those countries.
The warning comes as anti-government protests in Iran intensified, with rights groups and security officials reporting more than 2,000 deaths since the unrest began.
The protests started in Tehran on December 28 following the collapse of the Iranian currency and later spread to cities and towns across the country, evolving into broader demonstrations against the country’s clerical leadership.
Demonstrators have cited worsening economic conditions, government mismanagement, Western sanctions and restrictions on civil liberties as key drivers of the unrest.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had verified the deaths of 2,003 people during the protests, including 1,850 protesters, 135 government-affiliated individuals, nine minors and nine non-protester civilians.
The group also reported that at least 16,784 people have been detained since the demonstrations began.
A digital blackout has been imposed across Iran since last Thursday as part of the government’s crackdown, according to NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organisation.
Several foreign governments, including the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany, have condemned Iran’s response to the protests and summoned Iranian envoys to protest the violent crackdown.
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