Amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, India has launched "Operation Sindhu" to evacuate its citizens from Iran, prioritizing the safety and security of its nationals. As a first step of this operation, a special flight carrying 110 Indian students, primarily from northern Iran, landed safely in Delhi in the early hours of June 19, 2025.

The students, who had been moved to Armenia under the supervision of Indian missions in Iran and Armenia, departed from Yerevan on June 18, 2025. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), these students crossed over into Armenia before being flown back to New Delhi.

The evacuation operation comes in the wake of intensified conflict between Iran and Israel, which has seen both sides exchanging missile strikes and widening their attacks. This has created a precarious situation for Indian nationals residing in Iran, particularly students.

It is estimated that over 4,000 Indian nationals reside in Iran, with approximately half of them being students. Many of these students are from Jammu and Kashmir and are enrolled in medical and other professional courses.

Given the deteriorating security situation, the Indian government had already begun relocating Indian students to safer locations within Iran. Around 600 students were moved from Tehran to Qom, while students from other cities like Urmia, Shiraz, and Isfahan were being shifted to Yazd.

The Indian government has also been advising its citizens to leave Tehran, especially those who are self-sufficient in terms of transport. Some Indians have been facilitated to leave Iran through the border with Armenia.

The Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association (JKSA) expressed its gratitude to the Indian government, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, for launching the timely evacuation effort. The association also conveyed relief for Kashmiri students and their families and hoped for the safe evacuation of all remaining students soon. Ninety students from the Kashmir Valley were among those who arrived in New Delhi on the special flight.

The MEA has assured that the Indian Embassy in Tehran remains in continuous contact with the Indian community, providing all feasible assistance. Indian nationals in Iran have been advised to stay in touch with the embassy through its emergency helpline and with the 24x7 Control Room established by the MEA in New Delhi.

This is not the first time that the Indian government has launched a special evacuation operation to bring home Indians stranded in conflict zones. In 2023, "Operation Ajay" was initiated to evacuate Indians from Israel during the war with Hamas, and in 2022, "Operation Ganga" was launched to bring back Indian students from Ukraine following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Indian government has expressed its gratitude to the governments of Iran and Armenia for facilitating the evacuation process. As the conflict between Iran and Israel continues, the Indian government remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens in the region and is prepared to take further steps as needed.