ISLAMABAD: At least 72 Pakistani students have returned home from Iran amid escalating protests across the country, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu confirmed on Sunday, as Islamabad advised its nationals to exercise extreme caution and avoid non-essential travel until the situation stabilises.
Talking to a TV channel, Ambassador Tipu said that 72 Pakistani students enrolled at the University of Hormozgan in Bandar Abbas departed for Pakistan earlier in the day. He said the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran had extended all possible assistance to facilitate their safe return and remained in close coordination with Iranian border authorities to ensure a smooth process.
The ambassador added that Pakistani students studying at Zanjan University were also expected to return home soon. Urging compliance with official guidance, he advised all Pakistani citizens in Iran to strictly follow the advisory issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to complete all required formalities before departure.
Tipu noted that internet services, including Wi-Fi, were down in parts of Iran, while telephone connectivity was also disrupted. He advised Pakistani nationals to remain in contact with the embassy through landline numbers and to plan road travel carefully by reaching border points at least four hours before closing time, ensuring their passports were properly stamped.
In a message posted on X, the ambassador further cautioned that all Pakistanis travelling from Iran must ensure they possess a valid visa or an exit stamp (Kharooj) on their passports. He also advised students to obtain clearance certificates from their respective universities, warning that Iranian immigration authorities would not permit travel without completion of mandatory procedures.
The returns come as protests that began on December 28 over soaring prices have intensified and broadened into demonstrations against Iran’s leadership. Tehran has accused the United States and Israel of fuelling unrest, while Iran’s police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan has said security forces have stepped up efforts to confront what he described as “rioters”.
Separately, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has advised its nationals currently residing in Iran to remain vigilant, minimise non-essential movement, and stay in regular contact with Pakistani missions. For safety reasons, Pakistani citizens have also been urged to avoid all unnecessary travel to Iran until conditions improve.
