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India Evacuates 1,200 Nationals from Iran Amid West Asia Tensions

India has successfully evacuated over 1,200 of its nationals from Iran, with the majority being students, amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The evacuation is being coordinated through Armenia and Azerbaijan with the Ministry of External Affairs managing the process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently discussed the regional security situation, including attacks on energy infrastructure, with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince. Meanwhile, more than six lakh passengers have returned to India from the West Asia region since late February due to the escalating tensions.

Key Points: India Evacuates 1,200 from Iran via Armenia, Azerbaijan

  • 1,200+ Indians evacuated from Iran
  • 845 of those evacuated are students
  • Coordination via Armenia and Azerbaijan
  • Over 6 lakh passengers returned from West Asia
  • PM Modi held talks with Saudi Crown Prince
2 min read

India evacuates around 1,200 nationals from Iran via Armenia, Azerbaijan: MEA

India safely evacuates over 1,200 citizens from Iran, including 845 students, amid West Asia conflict. PM Modi discusses regional security.

"Some 1200 Indian nationals have been evacuated out of which 845 are students. - Randhir Jaiswal"

New Delhi, April 2

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that more than 1,200 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the evacuation is being carried out through Armenia and Azerbaijan with the Centre closely coordinating efforts on the ground.

According to Jaiswal, "Some 1200 Indian nationals have been evacuated out of which 845 are students."

He added, "996 moved to Armenia and 204 to Azerbaijan from where they are being helped by the MEA."

The spokesperson said the Ministry has been working closely with Indian missions and local authorities in both Armenia and Azerbaijan to ensure the safe return of citizens. He noted that arrangements are in place to assist evacuees in transit before they are brought back to India.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with global leaders to address key international developments, including the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Speaking about these engagements, Jaiswal said, "The Prime Minister is currently engaging in discussions with leaders from various nations across the globe. In this context, on March 28th, the Prime Minister held talks with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During this conversation, views were exchanged regarding the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The Prime Minister condemned the attacks targeting energy infrastructure in that region. Both leaders also discussed free navigation and keeping shipping lanes open and secure.

Meanwhile, over 6 lakh passengers have returned to India from the West Asia region amid the developing security situation as the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran enters its second month.

The MEA also provided an update on the Indian national injured in the UAE yesterday and underlined that the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community in the region remain the government's utmost priority.

Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) at the Ministry of External Affairs, shared the update during the inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital.

Mahajan said, "Since February 28th, around 6,24,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India. Airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled flights based on operational and safety considerations between the UAE and India. Around 90 flights are expected to operate from the UAE to various destinations in India today."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see proactive diplomacy at work. PM Modi engaging with leaders like the Saudi Crown Prince to discuss secure shipping lanes is crucial. Our economy depends on stable energy supplies and open seas. Hope all our nationals return home safely soon.
A
Aman W
While the evacuation is praiseworthy, I hope the coordination on the ground is smooth. 996 to Armenia and 204 to Azerbaijan... that's a lot of people to manage in transit. Hope the arrangements for food and stay are adequate. The real test is in the execution.
S
Sarah B
The scale is staggering - over 6 lakh passengers returned since Feb! My cousin was among those who came back from Dubai last week. She said the Indian embassy staff were very helpful. It's reassuring during such global uncertainty.
K
Karthik V
Heartening to see India using its diplomatic channels effectively. Coordinating with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, who have their own tensions, shows skillful foreign policy. The safety of our students abroad is paramount. Well done to the teams on the ground.
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Nisha Z
As someone with family in the Gulf, this news brings relief. The update on the injured national in the UAE is also important - shows they are tracking individual cases. Hope the 90 flights from UAE today have no hiccups. Stay safe everyone.

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