Australia Advises Its Citizens to Avoid Travel to Iran

On Thursday, June 1, the Australian government advised its citizens to continue avoiding travel to Iran due to a "high risk" of arbitrary detention or arrest. In this government warning, "kidnapping for ransom" in Iran is described as a "danger." The Canberra government also recommended that Australians and dual nationals currently in Iran seriously consider leaving the country. Australia had previously advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Iran and had asked dual nationals to leave the country. However, it reiterated its latest advice on June 1 due to "high regional tensions" and did not rule out that increasing tensions in the Middle East could lead to airspace closures, flight cancellations, route changes, and other travel disruptions. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs stated on its official travel advice website that foreigners, including Australians in Iran, may be at high risk of arbitrary detention or arrest. The advice added: "Terrorist attacks may occur anywhere in Iran; including Tehran or other places frequented by foreigners and tourists" and "may happen at any time, without prior warning." This statement listed embassies, hotels, mosques and other religious centers, tourist sites, buildings that are part of government interests, parades, military sites, and buildings related to Western trade and other Western interests as places that may be targeted for "terrorist attacks" in Iran. Australia has sanctioned four individuals and three entities responsible for repression in Iran. The statement also deemed the border areas of Iran with Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as "extremely dangerous." Australia expressed concern that the risk of kidnapping is particularly high in eastern Iran, such as Bam, Jask, and Sistan and Baluchestan, "with political, ideological, or criminal motivations." It is unclear whether the emphasis and reiteration of Australia's advice, while referencing the possibility of "terrorist attacks anywhere in Iran," is based on specific and new information that the country has become aware of. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs has asked its citizens currently in Iran to refrain from taking photographs of military or government sites, critical urban infrastructure, or even public protests that are illegal under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or any use of drones. This advice noted that high regional tensions, given the "long-standing hostility of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel" and "tensions between Iran and the U.S. and other Middle Eastern countries," may "escalate rapidly." The Islamic Republic of Iran has supported the extremist group Hamas in its attack on Israel on October 7 last year, which led to the Gaza war. Australia, like the U.S. and the European Union, considers Hamas a terrorist group. However, Penny Wong, the Australian Foreign Minister, described this week's Israeli military attack in the Rafah area as having "horrific and unacceptable consequences." Australia struggled for two and a half years to secure the release of one of its citizens who was sentenced to ten years in prison in Iran on charges of "espionage." Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian-British citizen and an Islamic studies lecturer at an Australian university, was arrested during an official trip to Iran in the summer of 2018. In December 2020, Australia managed to bring Ms. Moore-Gilbert back to her country during an international exchange that also involved Thailand. Bangkok handed over three Iranian agents who were imprisoned in connection with a bombing plot against Israeli targets in that country in exchange for Ms. Gilbert's release. Despite that crisis, Australia still has an ambassador in Iran and hosts tens of thousands of Iranians who have obtained Australian citizenship, some of whom travel to Iran.