Azerbaijan advises against travel to Iran after student reported missing

MOSCOW

Azerbaijan on Saturday advised its citizens against traveling to Iran after it sent a note of protest to Tehran over a missing Azerbaijani student.

"Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan are strongly recommended not to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran without necessity, and those entering this country should remain as vigilant as possible," the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.

It also advised that Azerbaijani citizens, who are currently in Iran, observe "the safety rules."

On Friday, Azerbaijan sent a note of protest to the Iranian side in connection with the arrest of Azerbaijani citizen Farid Safarli, whom the Iranian authorities accuse of espionage.

Safarli, a university student in Germany, arrived in Iran in early March. Since then, contact with him has been lost.

The Azerbaijani side demands the Iranian authorities clarify his fate.