New Zealanders in Iran have been warned to leave the country immediately as deadly protests intensify and the United States signals possible military action against the Iranian regime.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said it is closely monitoring the situation, including through New Zealand’s embassy in Tehran, and has been in direct contact with the 39 New Zealanders currently registered in Iran.
A spokesperson said those New Zealanders had been reminded of SafeTravel advice and urged to depart while commercial routes remain available.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said he was “gravely concerned” by reports that protesters had been killed and called on Iranian security forces to “refrain from violence”.
“New Zealand is deeply troubled by the loss of life and the escalating use of force against civilians,” Peters said in a post on X.
The warning comes as protests across Iran enter their third week, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reporting it has verified 544 deaths so far.
The true toll may be higher, with information flowing out of the country increasingly restricted after Iranian authorities cut internet access and telephone lines on Thursday.
The unrest has also drawn sharp attention from Washington. President Donald Trump said he is weighing military options against Iran, following through on earlier threats to act against the regime as demonstrations turn increasingly deadly.
“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on January 11, as he returned to Washington after a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Meanwhile, senior figures in the Iranian regime warned that any U.S. strike on Iran would trigger retaliation against Israel.
The convergence of mass protests, tightened internal controls, and the prospect of foreign military action has heightened concerns for the safety of foreign nationals in Iran.
MFAT said the security environment remains unpredictable and could deteriorate rapidly, urging New Zealanders not to wait.
“Our advice is clear: New Zealanders in Iran should leave now while it is still possible to do so safely,” the ministry said.
