Iran unrest: India evacuates citizens, cancels flights
With protests and political unrest sweeping Iran, one report estimated roughly 4,800 Indian nationals—many of them students and oil sector workers—could be affected, and India has told its citizens to leave the country right away.
The embassy in Tehran has set up emergency helplines and is prioritizing families and those needing extra help, even as internet shutdowns make things tricky.
Why does it matter?
India has been preparing for possible evacuations since the pandemic; no special evacuation flights were reported as of January 2026.
This move shows how seriously India is taking the safety of its people abroad, especially as tensions in Iran rise with over 2,500 reported deaths during crackdowns.
The situation also affects travel plans—flights have been canceled or rerouted since Iran closed its airspace—and could impact India's access to key projects like the Chabahar port.