According to the Finnish Embassy in Tehran, there has been an increase in reports of the arbitrary arrests of foreigners in Iran in recent days.
In a new statement issued on Sunday, the embassy urged Finnish citizens in the country to avoid protests and large crowds, suggesting that such settings could quickly turn violent.
Meanwhile, in a post on social media site X, Finnish President Alexander Stubb urged Iranian authorities to refrain from using violence.
"We urge the Iranian authorities to refrain from using violence against their own people and respect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. Aggression must stop," Stubb's post read.
"We call for the release of all unjustly detained demonstrators," Stubb added.
Nearly 100 Finnish citizens have informed the foreign ministry about travel plans to Iran, the ministry's communications unit told news agency STT on Monday.
The ministry said it was not aware of any Finns having been arrested or injured during the large-scale protests that have broken out across the country.
The Finnish Embassy in Tehran also advised its nationals in the country to keep track of news updates and to follow the instructions of local authorities. It also advised Finnish citizens there to inform relatives and other close personal contacts about their situation.
In the case of emergencies, the embassy advised people to contact the Finnish foreign ministry's emergency service.
News about the embassy's statement was first published in Finland by tabloid Ilta-Sanomat.
Towards the end of last month, mass demonstrations broke out across Iran amid a worsening economic crisis and growing dissatisfaction with the country's ruling regime.
Citing local sources and activists, the BBC reported on Monday morning that hundreds of protesters have been killed in "an escalating government crackdown".
The BBC said it had counted 180 body bags in video footage taken at a morgue near Tehran. It said the Human Rights Activist News Agency had verified the deaths of 495 protesters and 48 security personnel across Iran.
The British public broadcaster also noted that Iran has warned that it would retaliate if the United States were to attack.
Edited at 13:35 on 12 January 2026 to add information about just under 100 Finns having notified the foreign ministry regarding their travel plans to Iran.
