HYDERABAD : In an official statement issued, the Consulate General of Iran said all necessary measures are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all foreign nationals, including Indian citizens, in Iran.

Referring to Article 27 of the Iranian Constitution, the Consulate noted that citizens have the right to freely assemble and protest. It said the ongoing protests, driven largely by economic concerns, constitute a legitimate and lawful expression of public opinion, a position reiterated by Iran’s Supreme Leader on January 3, 2026, and supported by other state officials.

The statement emphasised that protests in Iran are essentially peaceful in nature, similar to demonstrations seen in other democratic nations. However, it alleged that certain foreign parties are attempting to politicise the situation, incite violence, and project themselves as sympathisers of the Iranian people.

In this context, the Consulate said affiliated media outlets have launched what it described as a propaganda campaign, spreading false information to influence public opinion. Among these were claims that Iran’s Supreme Leader had left or was preparing to leave the country, reports the Consulate termed “entirely false, baseless and fabricated.”

It added that similar unsubstantiated reports had circulated during the recent 12-day imposed war, and asserted that the current narratives are a continuation of propaganda driven by certain American and Israeli regime media outlets.