Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Mar 16: The Embassy of India in Tehran has once again advised Indian nationals in Iran not to attempt crossing any land border without prior approval and coordination with the embassy.
In an advisory issued on Monday, the mission reiterated its earlier notice from March 9, stressing that Indian citizens currently in Iran must not approach or try to cross land borders for onward travel unless the move has been clearly coordinated with the embassy.
The embassy said it remains in constant contact with members of the Indian community and is making arrangements where necessary to assist them.
“Uncoordinated movement toward land borders is strongly discouraged,” the advisory stated.
Officials warned that Indian nationals attempting to leave Iran through land borders without the embassy’s knowledge or guidance could face significant logistical and immigration problems.
The advisory further clarified that the embassy would not be able to extend assistance once individuals leave Iranian territory without prior coordination.
“All Indian nationals in Iran are urged to strictly follow the advisories issued by the embassy and remain in contact with official channels before undertaking any travel,” it added.
Meanwhile, the first group of more than 70 Indian students evacuated from Iran through Armenia arrived safely in New Delhi on Sunday, according to the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association.
The association’s national convenor, Nasir Khuehami, said the students—most of whom are from Jammu and Kashmir—along with several pilgrims, had been stranded in Iran due to the tense situation in the region.
The group reached Indira Gandhi International Airport on a commercial flight as part of the initial phase of the evacuation process.
According to Khuehami, the students undertook a lengthy and challenging journey involving both land and air travel coordinated with relevant authorities.
They first travelled by bus from different cities in Iran and crossed into Armenia. From there, they boarded a Flydubai flight from Zvartnots International Airport to Dubai. After a brief layover, the passengers boarded another connecting Flydubai flight that landed in New Delhi at around 9:45 a.m. on Sunday.
Most of the returning students were studying at institutions such as Urmia University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, along with several other universities across the country. Many had earlier been moved to safer locations by the Indian Embassy in Tehran as the regional security situation deteriorated.
The students’ association thanked the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy in Tehran for facilitating the evacuation and ensuring the safe return of the students.
Their arrival has brought relief to families across Kashmir who had been anxiously waiting for their children to return safely from the conflict-affected region.