Iran has scrapped its visa-waiver facility for ordinary Indian passport holders following a series of alarming incidents in which Indians were trafficked, kidnapped and extorted after being lured to the country on false promises of jobs or onward travel to third nations.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a detailed advisory issued on Monday, said the government had been “drawn to several incidents” where Indian nationals were misled by agents offering lucrative employment or seamless transit routes via Iran.

Taking advantage of Iran’s visa-free entry for Indian travellers, many unsuspecting citizens flew into the country -- only to find themselves trapped.

According to the advisory, several Indians were kidnapped for ransom shortly after landing in Iran, indicating a coordinate

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