Paulo Rangel spoke to journalists at the end of a visit to the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) headquarters in Lisbon, where he assured that the Portuguese government is monitoring the situation of all Portuguese citizens residing in Iran.

"We have information from the Portuguese who are there that they are well," said the Minister.

In Iran, at least 538 people have died following demonstrations that began on 28 December, in protest against the economic crisis and the cost of living, and which have spread throughout the Middle Eastern country, according to data from the US non-governmental organisation (NGO) Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Paulo Rangel recalled that the Portuguese Government condemned the “extremely violent attacks being carried out against demonstrators” in Iran.

“We strongly condemn the attack on Iranian citizens and call for profound respect, both for essential and fundamental freedoms and for human rights, in the case of Iran,” he said.

For the Minister, “it is essential that the Iranian authorities respect the rights of the people who are demonstrating, and this is a clear position of the Portuguese Government.”

Regarding the “residual” community, the governor said his ministry is monitoring the situation, which, for now, is not causing concern.