TAIPEI (TVBS News) — With the death toll rising in Iran's protests against the government, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部) spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) assured the public on Tuesday (Jan. 13) that the five Taiwanese currently in Iran are safe, with the ministry closely monitoring the situation.
TIME reported on Jan. 12 that Iranian security forces might have killed thousands of protesters, despite the government's internet blockade. Videos circulating on social media show machine guns mounted on trucks firing into streets, hospitals overwhelmed with casualties, and morgues piled with bodies.
Hsiao stated during a routine press conference that the ministry is in constant contact with its office in Dubai and maintains communication with Taiwanese citizens in Iran through a community network to ensure their safety. He emphasized that the Dubai office is prepared to implement emergency response plans, and the ministry will continue to adjust travel advisories as the situation develops.
MOFA urged citizens on Jan. 7 to avoid travel to Iran, elevating the travel alert to urge citizens to leave the country immediately. This advisory comes amid nationwide anti-government protests in Iran, which authorities have violently suppressed. The protests, initially sparked by economic hardships, have evolved into demonstrations against Iran's theocratic regime established after the 1979 revolution, according to AFP.
