Key Points
- Iran is making a special exception to facilitate the evacuation of Indian students amid the Israel-Iran conflict.
- India’s Operation Sindhu is actively coordinating with Iranian authorities to safely relocate students stranded in Iran.
- Three Mahaan Air flights have been arranged to bring Indian students back to India in coordinated batches.
- Around 10,000 Indian nationals are currently in Iran, with about 1,000 already relocated to safer areas.
- India evacuated 110 students via Armenia as part of the ongoing Operation Sindhu efforts.
New Delhi: Iran has made a special exception to facilitate the evacuation of Indian students stranded in the country amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Despite the closure of airspace due to the conflict, Iranian officials have coordinated with Indian authorities to ensure safe passage for Indian nationals.
Coordinated Flights and Safe Relocation
According to Javed Hosseini, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, three Mahaan Air flights have been arranged to bring Indian students back to India in coordinated batches. The students were first moved to safer locations within Iran before being assisted with onward travel arrangements.
Scale of the Operation
Approximately 10,000 Indian nationals, many of whom are students, are currently in Iran. Of these, around 1,000 have already been relocated to safer areas. The evacuation flights are expected to operate from Mashhad to Delhi in stages, with more batches planned in the coming days.
Diplomatic Coordination
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been in direct contact with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to coordinate efforts and ensure the safety of Indian nationals. The Embassy of Iran in India confirmed that the repatriation is part of the ongoing cooperation under Operation Sindhu.
Previous Evacuations via Armenia
India has already evacuated 110 students from northern Iran who crossed into Armenia under the supervision of Indian missions in both countries. These students departed from Yerevan on a special flight and arrived in New Delhi on June 19, 2025.
Operation Sindhu exemplifies India’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its nationals abroad, especially in conflict zones. The ongoing cooperation between India and Iran highlights the importance of diplomatic channels in managing crises and ensuring safe evacuations.
