Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 17: Scenes of anxiety, relief and gratitude unfolded at the Indira Gandhi International Airport late on Friday as several Indian nationals returned from Iran, days after New Delhi urged its citizens to leave the country amid escalating protests and a volatile security situation.
The arrivals followed advisories issued by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran, asking Indian nationals, including students, pilgrims, businesspersons and tourists, to depart Iran using available transport options. The government said it was closely monitoring the situation and remained committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.
Those who returned described rapidly deteriorating conditions on the ground, marked by protests, movement restrictions and widespread communication blackouts. “The conditions are bad there. The Government of India has cooperated a lot, and the Embassy guided us on leaving Iran as early as possible. ‘Modi ji hai toh har cheez mumkin hai’,” one returnee said after landing in Delhi.
Another Indian national said the sense of insecurity had intensified in recent weeks. “We were there for a month, but the problems started in the last one or two weeks. Protesters would block cars and create trouble. The internet was shut down, so we could not inform our families. We were very worried and could not even contact the embassy,” he said.
A resident of Jammu and Kashmir, who also returned from Iran, recalled the severity of the unrest. “The protests were dangerous. The Indian government has made a very good effort and brought the students back safely,” he said.
Outside the arrival gate, families waited anxiously, many after days without contact due to internet shutdowns. A man waiting for his wife’s aunt, who had gone to Iran on a pilgrimage, expressed gratitude to the Centre. “Iran has always been a good friend of India, and we had full confidence in the Modi government. We thank the Government of India for making this possible. We are very happy our family member is returning,” he said.
Another relative, waiting for his sister-in-law, described the situation as “war-like”. “The internet was down and we could not contact her at all. We were extremely worried. We are thankful to the Government of India for making arrangements in such difficult times,” he said. A family member added that his mother and aunt were returning after three days of complete silence. “We were very worried, but they are returning today,” he said.
In its advisory, the Indian Embassy in Tehran cited the “evolving situation” and urged Indian nationals to leave through commercial flights and other available means. The Ministry of External Affairs also strongly advised Indians to avoid travel to Iran until further notice, reiterating its January 5 advisory asking those already in the country to remain cautious and stay away from protests and demonstrations.
The unrest in Iran began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28 following a sharp fall of the Iranian rial to record lows and later spread nationwide. The protests have been fuelled by an economic crisis driven by water shortages, power outages, rising unemployment and soaring inflation.
Officials said more Indians are expected to return in the coming days, with coordination between New Delhi and the Indian Embassy in Tehran continuing as the situation in the region remains fluid.