Sat Sep 20 01:53:28 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong warning to Indian citizens seeking employment in Iran. The MEA reports a rise in cases where individuals are being lured to Iran with fake job offers, often with the promise of onward travel to other countries. Upon arrival, these individuals are being kidnapped by criminal gangs who demand ransoms from their families. The MEA emphasizes that Iran only offers visa-free entry to Indians for tourism purposes and warns against trusting agents promising visa-free entry for employment.
**News Article:**
**India Warns Citizens of Fake Job Offers and Kidnappings in Iran**
*New Delhi, September 20, 2025* – The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong advisory cautioning Indian nationals seeking employment in Iran to be extremely vigilant due to a surge in fraudulent job offers and subsequent kidnappings.
According to the MEA, numerous Indian citizens have recently been lured to Iran under false pretenses, promised jobs that either do not exist or are a guise for trafficking individuals to other countries. Upon arrival in Iran, these individuals are being targeted by criminal gangs who are kidnapping them and demanding ransoms from their families for their release.
“We are deeply concerned about the increasing number of cases involving Indian citizens being deceived with fake employment opportunities in Iran,” stated MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a press conference yesterday. “We urge all Indian citizens to exercise the utmost caution and verify the legitimacy of any job offer before traveling to Iran.”
The Ministry also clarified that the Iranian government only allows visa-free entry to Indians for tourism. Any agent or individual promising visa-free entry for employment purposes should be considered highly suspicious and potentially linked to criminal organizations.
“Do not fall prey to these deceptive offers,” the MEA warned. “Protect yourself and your family by thoroughly investigating any employment opportunity and verifying the credentials of those offering it.” The Ministry urged citizens to report any suspicious job offers to the Indian Embassy in Iran or the MEA in New Delhi.
This advisory comes amid growing concerns about human trafficking and exploitation targeting vulnerable individuals seeking employment opportunities abroad. The MEA has vowed to continue monitoring the situation and working with Iranian authorities to address the issue.
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