Pakistani nationals urged to avoid travel to Iran amid escalation

ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has issued a travel advisory for its citizens, urging them to avoid travelling to Iran for a limited period due to the evolving security situation following Israeli strikes.

According to the advisory, the government is closely monitoring developments in the region with a focus on the safety and well-being of Pakistani nationals.

It added that, in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives, necessary arrangements are already underway to ensure the safe return of Pakistani citizens currently in Iran.

Earlier on Friday, PM Shehbaz Sharif directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately establish a crisis management cell to ensure the safety of Pakistani citizens and pilgrims currently in Iran.

The Foreign Office said in a statement that it has activated the crisis unit to coordinate emergency measures for the protection and possible repatriation of Pakistani nationals, especially pilgrims, as tensions remain high in the region.

The PM instructed that all available resources be mobilised to safeguard Pakistani citizens and assist in their safe return, stressing that the Foreign Office and Pakistan’s embassy in Tehran must remain on high alert until the situation normalises.

The Foreign Office said the Pakistani embassy in Tehran has been tasked with providing full support and services to nationals in Iran.

The military tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated as both are actively launching potent attacks on each other.

Earlier in the day, Iranian media reported a “massive explosion” following an Israeli drone strike on the South Pars refinery in the southern port city of Kangan.

“An hour ago, an Israeli drone hit one of the South Pars Phase 14 refineries, causing a massive explosion and fire in the refinery,” the Tasnim news agency said, while the Fars agency reported firefighters were working to extinguish a blaze that had erupted as a result of the attack.

Israel also killed three more Iranian nuclear scientists, state television reported Earlier in the day, bringing to nine the overall number slain in Israel’s attack on the Islamic republic.

“Three of the country’s nuclear scientists — Ali Bekaei Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Borji — were martyred during the Zionist regime’s terrorist attacks,” the broadcaster said. Iranian media had said earlier that six others were killed in the Israeli attack.

Damage to Iranian nuclear sites so far appears limited

The Air Defence Force of Iran’s Army has also claimed it successfully shot down two Israeli F-35 fighter jets along with a large number of Israeli micro air vehicles (MAVs).

The status of the pilots remains unknown and is under investigation, according to Iranian state-run news agency IRNA.