With Iran temporarily closing its airspace and tensions rising in West Asia over possible US action against Tehran, India has started preparations to bring its citizens back from Iran. The move comes as the situation on the ground remains uncertain and protests continue in several parts of the country.
There are around 10,000 Indians currently in Iran. This includes students studying in medical colleges in Tehran and Isfahan, religious pilgrims in Qom and Mashhad, and others living and working in different cities.
“In view of the evolving situation in Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs is making preparations to facilitate the return of Indian nationals who wish to travel back to India,” according to the Indian Express, citing official sources on Thursday.
This statement came a day after the Indian Embassy in Tehran advised Indian citizens to leave Iran and stay away from protest areas.
Indian Embassy in touch with students and authorities in Iran: Report
Sources, according to The Indian Express, said the Indian Embassy in Tehran has been in constant contact with Indian students and local authorities. Many students are already registered with the embassy, and their personal details and passport information have been collected.
Reportedly, the first group of students has been told to be ready. The evacuation process is being planned carefully, with Indian authorities working closely with the embassy. More flights are expected in the coming days to bring all students back safely.
For emergencies, the Indian Embassy has shared helpline numbers: +989128109115, +989128109109, +989128109102 and +989932179359. Indians can also write to the embassy at cons.tehran@mea.gov.in.
Speaking to ANI, aviation expert Subhash Goyal said, “Indian embassy in Iran has already advised Indian nationals to register themselves with the Indian embassy. And India, particularly this government, is very keen to protect its nationals, whether they are in India or abroad… I’m confident, and Indians working there are also hopeful that if any situation comes beyond control, then they will be evacuated as long as they are registered with the Indian embassy.”
Iran’s airspace closure hits global flights
Iran shut its airspace for more than four hours on Thursday, according to guidance issued to pilots. Iran lies on a key east-west air route, so the closure affected several international flights. Many airlines were forced to divert their planes north or south to avoid Iranian airspace.
After one extension, the airspace appeared to reopen, and several domestic Iranian flights were seen in the air after 7 am. However, uncertainty remains, and airlines are taking a cautious approach.
Indian carriers IndiGo and Air India are currently avoiding Iranian airspace. This has affected flights to Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe and North America.
Pakistan has already banned Indian aircraft from using its airspace for months. If Iranian airspace also remains closed or unsafe, flight operations for Indian airlines could become even more complicated. Since April 2025, many west-bound flights have already been taking longer routes due to Pakistan’s ban.
According to Goyal, “If the airspace is closed with Iran, there are overland routes to Afghanistan… But the problem is that already, airlines are not able to fly over Russia and Ukraine because of the war situation there. And Iran was an alternative route. And now that Iran’s airspace is also shut, this means an extra burden for airlines to take a detour… I really feel that it is a very tough period for all airlines operating over Iran, not only for the Indian carriers, but also for other carriers that use or overfly Iran’s airspace…”