Iran warned its citizens to avoid traveling to the US if at all possible due to the extreme "Iranophobia" of US officials and the subsequent "high risk" the country poses to Iranian travelers, Agence France-Presse reports Monday. The warning follows the recent death of an Iranian man who died shortly after aggressive interrogations by US customs officials.
"Iranian citizens are advised to avoid non-essential travels to the US and, in case of visit, to exercise maximum caution," said foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.
Mehmanparast referred to an "Iranophobia trend in the US and repeated incidents in which Iranian citizens are threatened and arrested there."
Daryoush Sarreshteh, 73, died two days after being detained by US customs officials on November 6 at Dulles International Airport. Mehmanparast said his subsequent treatment was "inhumane" and suggested that the incident lead to his death.
"A five-hour unusual and inhumane interrogation of an elderly man cannot be acceptable," he said, urging a "precise investigation" by US authorities.