Indians start returning from Iran amid protests

Several Indians, including students, have arrived in New Delhi on board commercial flights from Iran amid widespread protests in the Islamic nation and Tehran’s crackdown that has so far killed more than 2,500 persons.

The flights arrived at the Delhi airport late on Friday night. It was not immediately known how many Indians had arrived in these commercial flights. News agency PTI quoted, Ali Naqui, who was a part of a group of 12 to 13 travellers, saying “We didn’t face any problem”.

A woman medical student said, “The Internet was not working. So, we didn’t exactly know what was happening around the country.”

The Indian Embassy in Tehran has been reassuring Indian nationals there through available means of communication. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in his weekly media briefing on Friday said, “At present, there are approximately 9,000 of our nationals living in Iran. Most of them are students”.

“Besides, there are sailors, pilgrims and some people who are associated with business and reside there,” he said, adding that in view of the recent developments and activities taking place in Iran, the MEA hade issued “two to three advisories”.

“In these advisories, we have stated that our citizens should not travel to Iran at this time, and Indian nationals who are currently residing there have been advised to leave the country through whatever means available. At present, commercial flights are still operating, and INdian nationals are advised to make use of those and leave,” he said.

Apart from this, New Delhi is “closely monitoring the situation and developments there”, Jaiswal had said.