New Zealand has imposed travel bans on 40 individuals associated with the Iranian regime, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in response to the violent suppression of protests. Foreign Minister Winston Peters is also urging all New Zealand citizens to leave Iran, citing a deteriorating security situation and the potential for retaliation if conflict escalates.
Travel Bans and Rising Tensions
The travel bans target individuals including Minister of the Interior Eskandar Momeni, Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib, and Prosecutor-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad. New Zealand joined Australia, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and the United States in implementing the sanctions.
Warning to New Zealanders in Iran
Peters warned that tensions between Iran and the US have been increasing, and New Zealand applied further sanctions on the nation this week. He stated that if war were to break out, innocent New Zealand citizens could be at risk of retaliatory action by the Iranian regime.
Currently, 26 New Zealanders are registered as being in Iran, though Peters suspects the actual number could be much higher, potentially hundreds. He encouraged citizens to depart, noting that this advice has been in place for some time.
“Get out, I suppose, is the safest answer for us to give them, and it’s been the advice we’ve given them for some considerable time now,” he said.
Global Concerns and Embassy Closure
Peters expressed concern that global tensions are at their worst since World War II. He noted that many countries share New Zealand’s view that Iran supports terrorist proxies worldwide.
The New Zealand embassy in Iran was temporarily closed in January due to the deteriorating security situation, with diplomatic staff relocating operations to Ankara, Turkey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) previously urged any New Zealanders still in the country to leave.
Peters said the motivation for New Zealanders remaining in Iran is likely to be a desire to stay near family and ensure their safety. He emphasized that while New Zealand makes extraordinary efforts to protect its citizens abroad, individuals must also take responsibility for their own safety.
He added that it is “possibly likely” that war could break out in Iran, and that preparations are being made for the worst-case scenarios.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
