Iran and Azerbaijan Issue Travel Warnings for France
Iran and Azerbaijan urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel to France following violent nationwide protests and riots that led to thousands of arrests.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued travel advisories on October 20, 2026, warning their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to France. The warnings follow a weekend of violent protests and civil disobedience across Europe, with France serving as the epicenter.
In France, approximately 550,000 people demonstrated against teacher shortages, living costs, and declining public services. These protests escalated into riots involving arson, looting, and clashes with police, resulting in over 2,000 arrests and the imposition of localized curfews in Paris and other cities. Similar unrest occurred on a smaller scale in Brussels, Belgium, and Milan, Italy, prompting Iran to extend its travel advisory to include both of those nations.
Iranian officials had previously summoned the French ambassador in early October to protest the use of excessive police force against demonstrators. The Iranian government accused Western capitals of maintaining double standards regarding the right to peaceful assembly. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan advised its nationals currently in France to exercise extreme caution and avoid crowded areas, designating the Embassy of Azerbaijan in France as the primary emergency contact point.
