Amid escalating regional tensions, the Indian government has successfully evacuated 110 Indian students from Iran, who landed safely in Delhi. This operation, dubbed "Operation Sindhu," was initiated in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the rising conflict between Iran and Israel.
The students, primarily from Urmia Medical University in northern Iran, were the first group to be evacuated as part of this operation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) coordinated their safe passage, first by assisting them in crossing over into Armenia on June 17, 2025. Under the supervision of Indian Missions in both Iran and Armenia, the students traveled by road to Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
From Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport, the students boarded a special flight on June 18, 2025, at 14:55 IST. Although the flight was delayed by three hours, it eventually arrived in New Delhi in the early hours of June 19, 2025.
The government of India has expressed its gratitude to the governments of Iran and Armenia for their assistance in facilitating the evacuation process. The MEA emphasized that India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad.
The Indian Embassy in Iran has been actively involved in assisting Indian nationals, helping them move from areas experiencing increased hostilities to safer regions within the country. The embassy has also been providing support for those seeking to evacuate using available and feasible options. Indian nationals in Iran have been advised to stay in close contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran through its emergency helpline and with the 24x7 Control Room established by the MEA in New Delhi.
Of the evacuated students, approximately 90 are from the Kashmir Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA) issued a statement expressing immense relief for the Kashmiri students and their families, acknowledging the government's timely intervention during this period of uncertainty. The JKSA also conveyed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar for launching the evacuation effort and reassuring anxious families back home.
India has also been in discussions with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, which share land borders with Iran, to assist in further evacuation efforts. Azerbaijan, known for its close ties with Israel, has agreed to facilitate India's evacuation operation. Several other countries in the region have also been using Azerbaijan to evacuate their citizens from Iran.
This is not the first time the Indian government has launched a special evacuation operation to bring home Indians stranded in conflict zones. In 2023, "Operation Ajay" was initiated to bring back Indians from Israel during the war with Hamas, and in 2022, "Operation Ganga" was launched to evacuate Indian students from Ukraine following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
With over 4,000 Indian nationals residing in Iran, half of whom are students, the Indian government remains committed to ensuring their safety and well-being amid the ongoing regional turmoil. The successful evacuation of these 110 students marks the initial phase of "Operation Sindhu," with ongoing efforts to assist and evacuate other Indian nationals as needed.
