Contact Lost With Armenian Community in Iran as Protests and Violence Escalate
- The Armenian Report Team
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Armenian officials say they have lost contact with the Armenian community in Iran as protests and violence continue to spread across the country. Since last Friday, there has been no reliable information about the situation of Armenians living there, raising serious concern in Yerevan.
The issue was addressed at a press conference by Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan. He said that the Armenian side has been unable to reach compatriots in Iran and does not have clear details about their safety or daily conditions. The lack of communication has created what officials describe as an information blackout.
According to Sinanyan, efforts are now focused on gathering information from people who are leaving Iran and crossing into Armenia. Starting today, Armenian authorities expect to receive updates from travelers arriving through the Meghri border crossing. This is currently one of the few available ways to understand what is happening inside Iran.
“I am confident that there will now be a normal flow at the border, and we will try to conduct some kind of survey to understand what is happening in Iran. This information blackout worries us greatly,” Sinanyan said.
Despite the growing concern, Armenian officials say it is too early to speak about evacuating the Armenian population from Iran. Sinanyan explained that there is still not enough verified data to assess the scale of the danger or to justify such a step at this moment.
He also addressed questions about whether Armenia could send a professional or humanitarian team into Iran to assess the situation directly. According to the commissioner, this option is not realistic under current conditions. Ongoing instability and security risks mean that such a move would likely be blocked by security agencies, given the uncertainty on the ground.
Sinanyan stressed that the first priority is to gain a clearer picture of events inside Iran, especially in cities where large Armenian communities live. Only after understanding the real situation, he said, can officials decide what actions should be taken next.
The unrest in Iran began on December 28, 2025. The protests were initially triggered by sharp changes in currency exchange rates and a rapid rise in prices. As the national currency weakened and economic pressure increased, public anger grew.
What started as economic protests quickly turned into wider demonstrations against the authorities. Over the past two weeks, the movement has expanded across the country and continues to gain momentum, leading to clashes, disruptions, and growing instability.
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