Indonesia has announced that it will no longer issue visas to Iranians at its airport.
ISNA reports that Iran’s ambassador to Jakarta announced the news today, June 21, adding that Iranians will now be required to obtain a visa to enter Indonesia from the Indonesian embassy in Iran prior to traveling to the country.
According to the Indonesian ambassador, the changes were prompted by “certain problems” with Iranians who use Indonesia as a route to seek asylum in Australia. He added that the decision is a move against the phenomenon of human smuggling and the death of asylum seekers at sea.
Indonesian authorities claim the move was buoyed by a request from Australian government.
On July 19, 127 asylum seekers being held in Nauru reportedly started a riot, and reports indicate many of the refugees in the camp were Iranians.
