Iraq has sent a committee to investigate an attack involving Iraqi students in Iran after violence at their accommodation in Semnan left several students injured and forced authorities to move them to a safer location.
Iraq’s Ambassador to Tehran, Yasser Abdul Zahra, said the embassy formed the committee after receiving reports about an incident involving Iraqi students at their accommodation. According to the ambassador, the incident began with a misunderstanding and a verbal dispute before escalating into an assault.
The committee visited the students’ accommodation soon after the embassy received the reports. Subsequently, authorities brought the situation under control with assistance from relevant Iranian officials.
Abdul Zahra said the embassy would continue providing protection and support to the affected students. At the same time, he urged Iraqi students in Iran to respect local social customs, maintain discipline and treat others with mutual respect.
However, an account from inside the accommodation describes a more serious confrontation. A source at the residence said two Iranian men, whom the source described as heavily intoxicated, attempted to enter the building where Iraqi students lived.
According to the source, students removed the two men from the building. Afterwards, around 150 people gathered inside and outside the accommodation and attacked the students. The confrontation reportedly injured several students, damaged personal belongings and smashed windows.
The source said students attempted to protect themselves by remaining inside the building and contacting authorities for help. However, the exact number and severity of the injuries remain unclear.
Meanwhile, footage from the Nikan residential complex appears to show crowds gathering around the accommodation and physical confrontations both inside and outside the building. The footage also appears to show students attempting to contact police before patrols arrived.
Semnan University administrators and Iranian security personnel later intervened. They also arranged buses to transport the students to a secure location. Authorities have not clarified how long the students will remain there.
In a statement circulated on Monday, Iraqi students in Iran called on Iraq’s cultural attaché in Tehran to coordinate with university officials and Iranian authorities over their safety.
The students also demanded an official investigation and legal action against those responsible. Furthermore, they urged authorities to introduce measures that could prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Despite the embassy’s announcement of an investigation, the ambassador did not say whether Iranian authorities had arrested anyone. He also did not confirm whether Iran had opened a formal criminal investigation into the incident.
The Iraqi embassy’s committee is now expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and assess the needs of the affected students. Meanwhile, concerns over student safety remain as officials work to determine what led to the violence.
