The Indian Embassy in Tehran on Monday asked Indian nationals to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights.

The advisory came against the backdrop of fresh protests in the country, with Iranian students shouting anti-government slogans and clashing with counter-protesters on Saturday, reported AP. The demonstrations continued on Sunday.

On Monday, the embassy told Indian students, pilgrims, business persons and tourists to have their travel and immigration documents, including passports and identity cards, readily available.

“They are requested to contact the Indian Embassy for any assistance in this regard,” it added.

The embassy also reiterated its January 14 advisory, asking Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Iran. It had, at the time, also asked Indian citizens in Iran to leave at the earliest.

On February 5, the Union government told the Parliament that there are approximately 9,000 to 10,000 Indian nationals in Iran, but it does not consider them “stranded”.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh had said that there are no reports of any Indian national being missing or killed during the protests.

“With commercial flights operating, Indian nationals wishing to return to India have been advised to use regular commercial air services,” Singh had said at the time.

The statement had come in response to a question about the number of Indians stranded in Iran amid the recent anti-government protests.

The protests, which began on December 28, initially focused on discontent about rising inflation. However, they later expanded as protesters in more than 100 towns demanded an end to clerical rule.

According to the United States-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the toll in the crackdown on the protests is at least 6,876.

Iran is also facing a military build-up deployed by the US, with President Donald Trump stating that he was considering a “limited strike”, reported BBC.

The US and its European allies have claimed that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has denied this.

Tehran and Washington are engaged in talks, reportedly to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

The authorities in Iran have accused the US and Israel of inciting the unrest.

On June 13, the Israeli military struck what it claimed were nuclear targets, and also other sites, in Iran with the aim of stalling Tehran’s nuclear programme. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel.

After 12 days of hostilities, Israel and Iran on June 24 agreed to a proposal by the United States for a ceasefire, which appears to have held so far. Washington is an ally of Israel and acts as a guarantor of the country’s security.