India asks nationals in Iran to leave by any available means

New Delhi: India has advised its nationals in Iran to depart by any available means of transport amid apprehensions of a possible US strike against the West Asian country.

"In continuation of the advisory issued by the Government of India on 5 January 2026, and in view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran-students, pilgrims, businesspersons and tourists-are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights," an advisory by the Indian Embassy in Tehran read.

The Embassy also reiterated its earlier January advisory, urging all Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin to exercise caution, avoid areas witnessing protests or demonstrations, remain in contact with the mission and monitor local media for updates.


It asked Indian nationals to keep their travel and immigration documents, including passports and identification papers, readily accessible at all times, and to contact the Embassy for assistance if required. It also shared emergency contact numbers: +989128109115, +989128109109, +989128109102 and +989932179359.

Sources told ET that no evacuation flight is being planned by India at this moment. But the Indian Embassy in Tehran is all prepared to launch evacuation if the situation deteriorates and is keeping a constant vigil on the evolving situation. There are around 9,000 Indian nationals in Iran including 3,000 students.

The Ministry of External Affairs had on February 14 urged Indian citizens to avoid travel to Iran until further notice. In January, India had put on hold evacuation flights amid an improvement in the situation in the region. Key Gulf states had then prevailed upon the US from attacking Iran.

However, over the past week Washington has increased its military presence around Iran, with US naval assets deployed in the region. Reports said a US aircraft carrier was sighted near Gibraltar heading towards West Asia, while another carrier is positioned in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman.

Iran, meanwhile, said it is prepared for any escalation, rejecting what it described as coercion and maintaining that diplomacy remained the primary path forward. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said he expects to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday. A "good chance" remains for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue, he said.