Several Indian nationals returned safely from Iran following government advisories amid escalating unrest and communication blackouts. The Modi government’s swift action has been widely appreciated by families awaiting their loved ones’ arrival.
Anxiety, relief and gratitude played out at Indira Gandhi International Airport late Friday as several Indian nationals arrived from Iran, days after New Delhi urged its citizens to leave the country amid escalating protests and a volatile security situation.
The arrivals followed advisories from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran, asking Indians, including students, pilgrims, businesspeople and tourists, to depart Iran using available transport options. The government said it was closely tracking developments and remained “committed to doing whatever is necessary for their well-being”.
Those returning described worsening conditions on the ground, marked by protests, movement restrictions and communication blackouts. “The conditions are bad there. The Government of India is cooperating a lot, and the Embassy provided us with information on leaving Iran as early as possible ‘Modi ji hai toh har cheez mumkin hai’,” one Indian national said after landing in Delhi.
Another returnee spoke of the growing sense of insecurity in recent weeks. “We were there for a month. But we were only facing problems for the last one or two weeks. When we went outside, the protesters would come in front of the car and cause trouble. The internet was shut down, which is why we could not tell our families anything. We were worried. We could not even contact the embassy,” he said.
A resident of Jammu and Kashmir, who also returned from Iran, recalled the intensity of the unrest. “The protests there were dangerous. The Indian government has made a very good effort and brought the students back,” he said.
Outside the arrival gate, families waited anxiously, some after days of silence from their relatives due to internet shutdowns. A man awaiting his wife’s aunt, who had gone to Iran on pilgrimage, said the family had drawn confidence from New Delhi’s response. “Iran has always been a good friend of India and we were very confident in the Modi government, which continuously supported. We thank the Government of India for making this possible. We are very happy as our family member is returning,” he said.
Another relative, waiting for his sister-in-law, described the situation as “war-like”. “The internet was down and we were not able to contact her by any means. We were worried. We are very happy that she is returning to India safely. We thank the Government of India for making arrangements during these difficult times,” he said. A separate family member said his mother and aunt were returning after three days of no contact. “We were worried. They are returning to India today,” he said.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran, in its advisory, cited the “evolving situation” and urged nationals to leave through commercial flights and other available means. In parallel, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi strongly advised Indians to avoid travel to Iran until further notice, reiterating an earlier advisory issued on January 5 that asked those already there to remain cautious and stay away from protests and demonstrations.
The unrest in Iran began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28 following the Iranian rial’s sharp fall to record lows and later spread into nationwide protests. The economic crisis has been driven by multiple pressures, including water shortages, power outages, rising unemployment and surging inflation, further fuelling public anger.
