Tehran/New Delhi, June 18 India has begun evacuating its citizens from Iran amid intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel, government sources said on Monday. The first batch of 100 Indian nationals is expected to cross into Armenia later tonight, marking the start of a wider evacuation plan involving thousands of students.
Iran, which shut down its airspace following a barrage of Israeli airstrikes on multiple Iranian cities, has allowed land-based evacuation routes to neighbouring countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The Indian government had earlier requested safe passage for more than 10,000 students believed to be stranded in Iran.
In a June 15 advisory, the Indian Embassy in Tehran urged Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin to remain indoors, avoid non-essential movement, and stay connected via the embassy’s social media channels for updates.
“The Embassy continues to closely monitor the security situation and remains in constant touch with the student community in Iran,” an embassy spokesperson said.
The evacuation effort comes as regional tensions flare, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of “more painful” retaliation if the United States fails to rein in Israeli military action. In a phone conversation with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Pezeshkian said Iran’s retaliatory capabilities were demonstrated after it swiftly responded to Israeli airstrikes that killed senior Iranian officials and damaged critical infrastructure.
“Should such violations repeat, Iran’s response will be even harsher,” he added.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule out the possibility of targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, when asked in a U.S. media interview. “We’re doing what we need to do,” Netanyahu said, without elaborating.
Israel has stepped up bombardments across Iran, while Tehran retaliated with a volley of missile strikes that reportedly breached Israeli air defences — marking one of the most intense exchanges between the two countries to date. Several Middle Eastern nations have since closed airports and restricted airspace, heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
