Amid a surge of violent protests in Iran, Australia on Wednesday urged its citizens to leave the country immediately, warning that unrest could escalate without warning.
According to the New York Post, the call comes as Tehran’s top military official threatened preemptive action following President Donald Trump’s recent warnings to the Iranian regime.
The Australian government advised travelers to depart “as soon as possible” and strongly discouraged any travel to the Islamic Republic, citing “ongoing violent nationwide protests that may further escalate without notice.”
The warning coincided with statements from Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami, Iran’s top military chief, said the country would respond to what it sees as aggressive threats from Washington.
Trump had previously claimed the U.S. might take military action if Iranian authorities violently suppress peaceful protests.
Hatami told the state-run IRNA news agency that the Islamic Republic “considers the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a response.”
The demonstrations, the largest in Iran in recent years, have erupted over the country’s crumbling economy. Despite Tehran’s announcement of a modest $7 stimulus package intended to ease financial pressures, thousands of Iranians continued to flood the streets on Tuesday, demanding relief from soaring inflation and economic hardship.
Analysts say the protests reflect deep-seated frustration with economic mismanagement, unemployment, and declining living standards, and they show no sign of abating.
The situation has created heightened international tension, with global governments monitoring the potential for further unrest and responding with travel advisories.
Australia’s directive marks one of the most urgent alerts from a foreign nation in recent weeks, underscoring the volatility in Tehran and the potential danger to foreign nationals.
As protests persist and rhetoric escalates between Washington and Tehran, the coming days could determine whether the unrest spreads further or if diplomatic efforts manage to avert a more serious confrontation.
