Amidst escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, India has launched ‘Operation Sindhu’ to safely evacuate its citizens stranded in Iran. The announcement was made on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, reaffirming India's commitment to the safety and security of its nationals abroad.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been closely monitoring the situation and has already taken proactive measures to ensure the well-being of Indian citizens in Iran. As a first step, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has successfully evacuated 110 Indian students from northern Iran, assisting them in crossing over into Armenia on June 17. These students traveled to Yerevan, the Armenian capital, under the supervision of the Indian missions in Iran and Armenia. A special flight carrying these students departed from Yerevan at 14:55 hours on June 18 and is expected to arrive in New Delhi in the early hours of June 19, marking the initial phase of Operation Sindhu.
There are over 4,000 Indian nationals residing in Iran, a significant portion of whom are students pursuing various academic disciplines. The MEA has stated that the Indian Embassy in Tehran is actively assisting Indian nationals in moving from areas experiencing increased hostilities to relatively safer locations within the country. The embassy is also coordinating evacuation efforts using available and feasible options.
The Indian government has expressed its gratitude to the governments of Iran and Armenia for their cooperation in facilitating the evacuation process. The MEA has also established a 24/7 Control Room in New Delhi to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those in need. Indian nationals in Iran are advised to stay in close contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran through its emergency helpline and with the MEA Control Room in New Delhi.
This isn't the first time India has undertaken such a rescue operation. In recent years, India has launched several successful evacuation missions to bring its citizens home from conflict zones, including Operation Ajay in 2023 to evacuate citizens from Israel and Operation Ganga in 2022 for students stuck in Ukraine. Other notable operations include Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023), Operation Devi Shakti (Afghanistan, 2021) and Operation Indravati (Haiti, 2024).
The launch of Operation Sindhu underscores India's continued commitment to protecting its citizens in times of crisis, ensuring their safe return home. The government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Iran and is prepared to take all necessary measures to safeguard its nationals.
