India's Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran

In the early hours of today, a special flight carrying 110 Indian students evacuated from northern Iran landed safely in New Delhi as part of Operation Sindhu—an emergency evacuation initiative launched by the Indian government in response to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. This operation was initiated to ensure the safety of Indian nationals amid the deteriorating security situation in the region.

As a critical first step, the Indian Embassy in Tehran coordinated the safe evacuation of these students by assisting their journey across the Iran-Armenia border on 17th June 2025. The students travelled by road under the supervision of the Indian diplomatic missions in both Iran and Armenia to reach the Armenian capital, Yerevan. From there, they boarded the special evacuation flight that departed Yerevan yesterday afternoon and arrived in New Delhi early this morning.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed gratitude towards the governments of Iran and Armenia for their cooperation in facilitating the smooth evacuation process.

Operation Sindhu reflects India’s highest priority: ensuring the safety and security of its nationals abroad. Beyond this initial evacuation, the Indian Embassy in Iran continues to assist a larger number of Indian nationals by helping them relocate from areas experiencing heightened conflict to safer regions within the country, followed by further evacuation efforts as conditions allow.

Indian nationals in Iran have been strongly advised to stay in close contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran through its emergency helpline numbers and with the 24x7 Control Room established by the MEA in New Delhi. These contact points provide vital support and information throughout the evacuation process.

The Embassy of India in Tehran has made available several emergency helpline numbers, including +98-9128109115 and +98-9128109109 for direct calls, and WhatsApp contacts at +98-901044557, +98-9015993320, and +98-8086871709. Additionally, specific helplines exist for the regions of Bandar Abbas (+98-9177699036) and Zahedan (+98-9396356649). The Embassy’s official email for assistance is cons.tehran@mea.gov.in.

Meanwhile, the MEA’s 24x7 Control Room in New Delhi can be reached via toll-free number 800118797, phone numbers +91-11-23012113, +91-11-23014104, and +91-11-23017905, and WhatsApp number +91-9968291988. The Control Room’s email address is situationroom@mea.gov.in.

Students who were evacuated shared their experiences with Akashvani News. Amaan Nazar, an MBBS student in Tehran, spoke about the challenges faced amid the security crisis, while Zehran Butt from Jammu and Kashmir expressed gratitude to the Indian government for their timely intervention. Another student from J&K, T Islam, commended the External Affairs Ministry for the efficient arrangements made during the evacuation.

India remains committed to safeguarding its citizens abroad, especially during crises, and Operation Sindhu exemplifies this dedication through coordinated diplomatic and logistical efforts.