Iran has officially suspended visa-free entry for Indian passport holders, with the new rule taking effect on November 22. The Indian embassy in Tehran issued an urgent advisory stating that criminal networks were exploiting the visa waiver to lure Indians with fake job offers and then kidnap them for ransom on arrival.
The embassy said several Indians had been trafficked to Iran through unverified travel agents promising easy entry or onward passage to other countries. With the suspension now in place, all Indian travellers must obtain a visa to enter or transit through Iran.
The decision follows a major case earlier this year involving three Indians from Punjab who disappeared after landing in Tehran. They were later found to have been abducted by a criminal gang. Iranian police rescued them in June from Varamin, south of Tehran.
Indian authorities have urged citizens to avoid suspicious agents and use only verified recruitment and travel channels to prevent further incidents.
