How Were Indians Evacuated from Iran Despite Closed Airspace?

With the tension between Israel and Iran escalating and the airstrikes likely to intensify, more than 100 Indian students from Urmia, a city in Iran, reached the Armenian border on Monday evening. They are ready for evacuation and are likely to be airlifted today. Parents of several Kashmiri students stranded in Iran appealed to PM Narendra Modi for safe evacuation of their wards.

According to the External Affairs ministry officials, nearly 10,000 Indians are living in Iran, including 6,000 students. In view of the concerns over their safety, the Indian officials, with the help of the Indian Embassy, have earlier moved 600 students from Tehran, to the city of Qom, as part of internal relocation efforts. Reports said that other students from Isfahan  and Shiraz would be relocated to Yazd.

The Indian Embassy is in contact with the Indians living in the country and facilitating their movement to safer places like Armenia. Reports said that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar got in touch with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and UAE Deputy PM and foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to know about the ground situation and other developments. A 24×7 control room has been established by the MEA to support the Indians affected by the situation.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has revealed that since the airspace is currently closed.. they can be taken through land borders. With this, they will be evacuated to India via Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.