Foreign Ministry “completely” advises against travel to Iran

Eduardo González The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “completely” advised against travel to Iran and has recommended that Spaniards living in the country leave “using all available means.” “Due to the highly unstable situation in Iran and the region, travel to this country is completely discouraged,” the Ministry warns in its travel recommendations, updated this Thursday, January 15, following the outbreak of widespread protests across the country against the Islamic Republic regime, in which around 2,500 people have died as a result of repression by security forces. “Spaniards currently in Iran are advised to leave the country using all available means,” the Ministry continues. Minister José Manuel Albares himself announced this Thursday, in statements to the press in the halls of Congress, that the Ministry has recommended that the few Spaniards, just over 140, living in the country—many of them with dual nationality and, therefore, with established lives in Iran—leave the country, even if only temporarily. Albares also recommended that Spaniards in Iran contact the Spanish Embassy in Tehran, which, "with its ambassador at the helm, remains fully operational at this time, serving the Spanish people," and reported that the Ministry is "monitoring the situation practically minute by minute." He also clarified that, for the moment, the evacuation of Spanish diplomatic personnel has not been considered. "In addition to the conflict that began in June 2025, protests have spread throughout the country since December 28, 2025," the Ministry noted in its travel recommendations. “The situation is unstable throughout the country. Various sources report numerous deaths and arrests of protesters. Furthermore, communications have been cut off since January 8, including internet and incoming phone calls from abroad,” the statement continued. In addition, the Foreign Ministry indicated that “most airlines have suspended operations,” so “it is recommended to check with the airline regarding flight connections, as these may be affected by the evolving situation.” “The borders with Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan are open to foreign citizens,” the Ministry assured. Moreover, “it is recommended to stay tuned to the social media and other communication channels of the Spanish Embassy in Tehran once internet communications are restored.” “Internet and communication outages are frequent. Messaging systems such as WhatsApp and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are blocked. This could mean being left without communication for extended periods,” the statement added. “If you are in Iran, it is strongly advised against participating in demonstrations of any kind, taking photos or videos of them, or of any official buildings,” the Ministry warned. “Please be aware that, at this time, any citizen taking photos or videos outside of tourist areas may be viewed with suspicion by the authorities. It is also strongly recommended that you do not take photos or videos of military or government installations, or publicly express political or religious views, including on social media. Several European citizens have been arrested and sentenced to prison for these reasons,” it added.

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