An atmosphere of anxiety, relief and gratitude unfolded at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi late Friday night as several Indian nationals returned safely from Iran. Their arrival came days after the Government of India issued advisories asking its citizens to leave Iran due to escalating protests, security concerns and widespread communication blackouts. 

The returnees were brought back following continuous advisories from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Tehran. Indians in Iran, including students, pilgrims, businesspersons and tourists, were advised to leave the country using available commercial flights and other transport options. The government said it was closely monitoring the situation and remained “committed to doing whatever is necessary for their well-being”. 

Many of those who landed in Delhi described the situation in Iran as tense and deteriorating. Protests, restrictions on movement and internet shutdowns had made daily life increasingly difficult. One Indian national, speaking after landing, said, “The conditions are bad there. The Government of India is cooperating a lot, and the Embassy provided us with information on leaving Iran as early as possible ‘Modi ji hai toh har cheez mumkin hai’.” 

Another returnee shared how the situation worsened in recent weeks. “We were there for a month. But we were only facing problems for the last one or two weeks. When we went outside, the protesters would come in front of the car and cause trouble. The internet was shut down, which is why we could not tell our families anything. We were worried. We could not even contact the embassy,” he said. 

A resident of Jammu and Kashmir, who also returned from Iran, recalled the intensity of the unrest and appreciated the government’s efforts. “The protests there were dangerous. The Indian government has made a very good effort and brought the students back,” he said. 

Outside the arrival gates, families waited anxiously, many of them after days of complete silence from their relatives because of internet shutdowns in Iran. Emotions ran high as families reunited after uncertain and stressful days. 

A man waiting for his wife’s aunt, who had gone to Iran on a pilgrimage, said the family trusted the Indian government’s response throughout the crisis. “Iran has always been a good friend of India and we were very confident in the Modi government, which continuously supported. We thank the Government of India for making this possible. We are very happy as our family member is returning,” he said. 

Another relative, who was waiting for his sister-in-law, described the situation in Iran as “war-like”. “The internet was down and we were not able to contact her by any means. We were worried. We are very happy that she is returning to India safely. We thank the Government of India for making arrangements during these difficult times,” he said. 

A separate family member said his mother and aunt were finally returning after three days of no communication. “We were worried. They are returning to India today,” he said, expressing relief after days of uncertainty.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran, in its advisory, referred to the “evolving situation” in Iran and urged Indian nationals to leave through commercial flights and other available means. At the same time, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi strongly advised Indians to avoid travelling to Iran until further notice. This was a reiteration of an earlier advisory issued on January 5, which had asked Indians already in Iran to remain cautious and stay away from protests and demonstrations. 

The unrest in Iran began on December 28 at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar following a sharp fall of the Iranian rial to record lows. What started as economic protests later spread across the country. The crisis has been driven by several factors, including water shortages, power outages, rising unemployment and high inflation, which further fuelled public anger and nationwide demonstrations. 

Officials said more Indian nationals are expected to return in the coming days. Coordination between the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran is ongoing as New Delhi continues to assess the rapidly changing situation in the region and ensure the safety of its citizens.