Iran’s Foreign Ministry has issued a travel advisory for France, Belgium, and Italy, urging Iranian citizens to avoid non-essential travel and steer clear of high-tension areas following violent protests and disruptions to public order over the weekend.

In a statement released Monday by the ministry’s Public Relations Department, Iranian authorities advised compatriots against undertaking unnecessary trips to the three European countries or remaining in zones affected by unrest.

Those already present were told to avoid areas of tension or conflict, limit unnecessary movement, particularly in volatile regions, and check the latest security situation and public transport conditions before traveling.

Citizens were also instructed to carry contact details for Iran’s diplomatic missions in France, Belgium, and Italy.

The advisory comes after nationwide demonstrations in France on Saturday escalated into some of the country’s worst riots in years.

Protests that began in mid-September over teacher shortages, deteriorating school conditions, rising living costs, energy prices, and declining public services converged with broader social discontent, including participation from trade unions and Yellow Vest elements.

Authorities reported roughly 550,000 participants nationwide, while organizers estimated higher figures. Violence included clashes with police using tear gas and water cannons, looting of shops, arson attacks on public buildings, including the town hall in Limoges, and vandalism across cities such as Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and others.

Police made more than 2,000 arrests, hundreds of officers were injured, and at least one protester died of cardiac arrest. Localized curfews were later imposed in parts of Paris and other cities.

Although the scale was smaller elsewhere, similar scenes unfolded in Belgium, where protesters clashed with police in Brussels, and in Italy, where shops were looted in Milan during demonstrations. Observers have described France as the epicenter, with signs of discontent spreading.

The Iranian advisory aligns with Tehran’s earlier concerns about how the French protests were handled.

In early October, Iran summoned the French ambassador. It denounced disproportionate police force against largely young demonstrators, including minors, along with mass arrests and injuries from crowd-control measures such as grenades.

Officials highlighted double standards, noting that Western capitals have long lectured others on the right to peaceful assembly while responding forcefully to domestic unrest fueled by economic pressures and austerity policies.