Sachin Malik: Amid the Iran–Israel conflict and rising regional tensions, the Indian Embassy in Tehran is Playing a crucial role in ensuring the safety and evacuation of Indian nationals Stranded in the region. According to recent reports, under Operation Sindhu and other evacuation efforts, the embassy has taken several significant Steps to safely bring back thousands of Indians.
Due to the Closure of Iranian airspace and limited flight availability, the embassy coordinated with Armenia and Azerbaijan to arrange evacuations through land routes. Since the conflict began, more than 2,200 Indian citizens have been evacuated via these routes, including around 1,000 Students and over 650 fishermen.
On April 11, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar announced that 312 more Indian fishermen had been safely evacuated from Iran via Armenia. In a Post on social media Platform X, he expressed gratitude to the Armenian government and his counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for their support in making the operation Possible.
Additionally, during his visit to the UAE, Dr. Jaishankar met President Mohamed bin Zayed and conveyed appreciation for ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community in the region amid ongoing tensions. Earlier, on April 5, 345 Indian fishermen Stranded in Iran were safely brought to Chennai through Armenia.
Despite the suspension of air routes, India Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran have been making continuous efforts to assist citizens in distress. Evacuations are ongoing in Phases, with different batches of citizens being brought back to India.
According to media reports, many of those evacuated via Armenia are fishermen from Tamil Nadu districts such as Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Nagapattinam. Upon returning home, several fishermen described their survival and return from war-affected areas as a “second life” and expressed gratitude toward the Indian government and its Missions.
It is noteworthy that as soon as the conflict escalated in West Asia, Indian missions across the region went on high alert. They have been issuing regular advisories to safeguard the interests of Indian nationals, urging them to stay in touch with the embassy and seek guidance before moving toward any international Borders.
Despite ongoing efforts toward ceasefire and Peace talks, the Situation in the region remains tense. The Government of India continues to Prioritize the evacuation of all remaining citizens Stranded in affected Areas.
