India Evacuates Citizens from Iran as Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates
| 2025-06-19
Kashmiri students in Iran wait to board a flight to return to India under an evacuation operation facilitated by the Government of India.
India has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals from Iran amid the intensifying conflict with Israel, beginning with 110 students.
India begins evacuation of citizens from Iran with Operation Sindhu
India has initiated a large-scale evacuation effort—Operation Sindhu—to bring home its nationals from Iran, as tensions between Iran and Israel intensify. The operation began with the successful evacuation of 110 Indian students from northern Iran, who were transported across the border into Armenia.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the students were safely moved under the supervision of Indian diplomatic missions in both Iran and Armenia. They travelled by road to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, before boarding a special flight to New Delhi on 18 June. Their arrival is expected in the early hours of 19 June.
Evacuation Begins Amid Rising Regional Conflict
The evacuation comes in response to deteriorating security conditions in Iran, where hostilities with Israel have entered their sixth day. According to Iran’s Health Ministry, the death toll in the country has reached 585, with widespread damage reported, particularly in and around Tehran. Israeli authorities, meanwhile, have reported 24 deaths and over 1,300 injuries due to Iranian missile attacks.
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran claimed to have deployed the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile against Israeli targets for the first time in the ongoing conflict. Explosions were reported in Tel Aviv, as Israeli retaliatory strikes targeted Iranian military positions in and around the capital.
In a statement issued on 18 June, the MEA said: “In view of the deteriorating situation as a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, the Government of India has been taking various steps over the last several days for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran.”
Operation Sindhu: Wider Evacuation Plans Underway
The evacuation of students marks the first phase of Operation Sindhu. Indian authorities have indicated that further efforts are underway to assist other citizens currently in high-risk zones across Iran. The Indian Embassy in Tehran has been coordinating with local authorities and monitoring developments closely to facilitate additional evacuations through feasible routes.
The Indian government has thanked both the Iranian and Armenian authorities for their cooperation in enabling the first phase of the evacuation.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared images of the students boarding the flight and reiterated India’s commitment to citizen safety abroad. “India accords the highest priority to the safety and security of her nationals abroad,” he said in a social media post.
Emergency Support and Communication Channels
The Ministry of External Affairs has also established a 24x7 control room in New Delhi to support Indian nationals in Iran and their families. In addition to this, emergency helpline numbers have been activated by the Indian Embassy in Tehran to maintain direct communication with citizens on the ground.
The Embassy had earlier issued an advisory on 15 June, urging Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin in Iran to avoid unnecessary travel, stay in regular contact with the mission, and follow official updates through Embassy social media channels.
Wider Implications of the Conflict
The conflict between Israel and Iran marks a significant escalation in regional tensions. While both nations have a history of proxy engagements, the current direct missile exchanges represent a dangerous new phase. The use of advanced weapons, such as the hypersonic Fattah-1 missile, has heightened fears of broader regional destabilisation.
For India, which maintains diplomatic relations with both countries and has substantial diaspora communities in the region, the situation presents a complex foreign policy challenge. Ensuring the safety of its citizens while maintaining a neutral stance will be crucial as the conflict evolves.
Operation Sindhu reflects India’s preparedness to respond to emergencies affecting its diaspora. The swift coordination between diplomatic missions and the phased execution of evacuation measures underline the government's emphasis on citizen welfare in crisis zones.
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