NEW DELHI: Several Indian nationals returned from Iran late Friday, arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi as regional tensions and protests continue to escalate.
Their return follows an advisory issued by the Government of India urging citizens in Iran to leave the country due to the worsening security situation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is closely monitoring developments and remains “committed to doing whatever is necessary” to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian nationals abroad.
One returnee described the situation in Iran as “bad” and thanked the Indian government and embassy officials for their assistance. “The conditions were very difficult. The Government of India cooperated a lot, and the embassy guided us on how to leave as soon as possible,” he said.
Another Indian national told ANI that the situation had deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks. “We were there for about a month, but the problems began in the last one or two weeks. Protesters would block the roads and stop vehicles. The internet was shut down, so we couldn’t contact our families and became very worried. We were unable to reach the embassy as well,” he said.
A third returnee, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, highlighted the dangers posed by the unrest and praised the evacuation efforts. “The protests were dangerous. The Indian government made a strong effort to bring students and other citizens back safely,” he said.
Emotional scenes unfolded at the airport as families gathered to welcome their loved ones home. A relative waiting for an aunt who had travelled to Iran on pilgrimage expressed relief at her safe return. “We were confident that the Modi government would help. We are very happy our family member is coming back safely,” he said.
Another man awaiting his sister-in-law said communication had been impossible for days due to internet restrictions. “There was a war-like situation, and we could not contact her at all. We were extremely worried. We are grateful to the government for arranging their return during such a difficult time,” he said.
A family member of two women returning from Iran said they had lost contact for three days. “My mother and aunt are returning today. We were deeply worried because we couldn’t reach them, but we are relieved they are finally back,” he said.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Tehran issued an advisory asking Indian nationals — including students, businesspeople, pilgrims, and tourists — to leave Iran using available transport options, including commercial flights, citing the “evolving situation” in the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs also advised Indians in India to avoid non-essential travel to Iran until further notice. It reiterated its January 5 advisory urging those currently in Iran to remain cautious and avoid protests and demonstrations.
The current wave of unrest began on December 28 at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar following a sharp fall in the Iranian rial. The protests later spread across the country, driven by economic hardship, including water shortages, power outages, rising unemployment, and high inflation.
