Iran helps India fly out 1,000 Students

In a notable move, Iran on Friday opened its airspace for India to facilitate the evacuation of around 1,000 students, making an exception amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

Tehran will operate three special flights on Friday night and Saturday from the city of Mashhad to New Delhi to bring back these Indian students, Iran's deputy envoy to India Mohammad Javad Hosseini said on Friday. These students have already been relocated from the capital Tehran to Mashhad via Qom.

The Iranian airspace remains shut to most international flights following ongoing missile exchanges and drone attacks involving Israeli and Iranian forces.


Asked if the US joins the conflict on the side of Israel, Hosseini said, "We are ready for any scenario..."We want every country to condemn the attack (on Iran), Including India"

The Indian government had earlier evacuated students from Iran's Urmia University, got them to cross over to Yerevan, Armenia, on Tuesday, and then flew them to New Delhi. At least 94 of the students were from Jammu and Kashmir, with the rest belonging to Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

On Thursday, India also decided to start evacuation operations for its citizens in Israel. In a statement, the government said under 'Operation Sindhu", travel of these citizens will be facilitated through Israel's land borders and thereafter by air to India.

The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv is making arrangements for the evacuation. The embassy warned Indians to stay vigilant and strictly follow safety guidelines issued by Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command.