The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an orange travel advisory for Iran yesterday, advising that travelers postpone visits to the country because of the mass street protests following last week’s presidential election.
“In light of the upheaval in Iran, the ministry is also urging Taiwanese expatriates in Iran to remain vigilant for their own safety,” said Ali Yang (楊心怡), deputy director-general of the ministry’s Department of West Asian Affairs, at a regular press briefing.
Thousands of supporters of reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi took to the streets of Tehran for a fifth consecutive day on Wednesday in protest against presidential election results.
“The ministry is advising business travelers and other visitors to postpone their travel plans to Iran,” Yang said.
Yang said there were fewer than 10 Taiwanese studying in Iran and only five or six Taiwanese expatriates in the country, most of whom are married to Iranians. The ministry has made contact with them all, but they were happy to stay in the country as the protests are mainly confined to Tehran, Yang said.
“I believe the unrest is only temporary and Iran will soon return to normal,” Yang said, adding that in case of emergency Taiwanese nationals can contact the ministry’s representative office in Dubai on 971-50-6453018.
A yellow alert, the lowest on a three-color travel advisory scale, serves as a reminder for travelers to exercise caution. An orange travel alert is to advise travelers to postpone their trips, while a red alert warns travelers not to visit a location under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, Yang said oil supplies from Iran have not been affected by the unrest.
Iran is Taiwan’s third-largest oil supplier, after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
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