India, Jan 17 : Several Indian nationals arrived late Friday at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi after leaving Iran amid escalating unrest and a deteriorating security situation. The returns follow advisories issued by the Indian government and the Indian Embassy in Tehran urging citizens to depart the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is closely monitoring developments in Iran and is “committed to doing whatever is necessary for the well being” of Indian nationals. Families waited at the airport through the night, many expressing relief after days of uncertainty and disrupted communication.
Returnees described worsening conditions in recent weeks, marked by protests, restrictions on movement and internet shutdowns.
“The conditions are bad there. The Government of India cooperated a lot, and the Embassy kept us informed so that we could leave Iran as early as possible,” one returnee told ANI, thanking Indian authorities for their support.
Another passenger said the situation became increasingly difficult as demonstrations intensified. “For the last one or two weeks, we faced problems. When we went outside, protesters would come in front of vehicles and create trouble. The internet was shut down, so we couldn’t contact our families, which made us very worried,” he said.
A third returnee from Jammu and Kashmir described the unrest as dangerous and credited the Indian government for facilitating the return of students and other nationals.
At the arrivals terminal, relatives waited anxiously to receive family members. One man said his aunt had travelled to Iran on pilgrimage. “There was a war like situation and no internet. We were unable to contact her for days. We are very happy she is returning safely and thank the Government of India for making this possible,” he said.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has advised all Indian citizens including businesspersons, pilgrims, students and tourists to leave Iran using available transport, including commercial flights, citing an “evolving situation.” The MEA has also reiterated its advisory asking Indians to avoid travel to Iran until further notice and to stay away from protests.
Protests in Iran began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28 following a sharp fall in the rial and later spread to other parts of the country, driven by economic pressures including inflation, unemployment, water shortages and power cuts.