As the spiralling conflict between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day, the Indian government moved swiftly to relocate Indian nationals from Tehran, warning of potential large-scale military strikes in the Iranian capital. The Union ministry of external affairs (MEA) confirmed that Indian students have already been moved out of Tehran, and some citizens have been helped to cross into Armenia.
The advisory follows a sharp escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, with Israel’s military launching targeted airstrikes across Tehran, and Iran retaliating with a barrage of missiles across Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa and the Golan Heights. Reports indicate over 400 ballistic missiles and drones have been fired by Iran, while Israel’s 'Operation Rising Lion' has specifically targeted nuclear and weapons production facilities, deepening fears of a widening regional war.
On Tuesday, the
Indian Embassy in Tehran issued an urgent alert through its official X account, advising all Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) who can exit the city using their own resources to do so immediately and relocate to safer regions outside Tehran. Embassy helplines have been activated to coordinate logistics, while the MEA is maintaining direct contact with affected citizens.
“The Indian Embassy is in constant touch with our nationals. Evacuation support has been extended, including assistance to those who have exited through Iran’s land borders,” says a spokesperson of the MEA.
With over 1,500 Indian students estimated to be in Iran, authorities are working on organising flights and monitoring border situations. The first group is expected to depart shortly, depending on airspace access and safety clearances.
The evacuation advisory coincides with intensified Israeli strikes on strategic installations in Tehran, including military command centres, missile depots and a centrifuge production site linked to Iran’s nuclear programme. The Israeli defence force (IDF) claimed it has also eliminated Ali Shadmani, chief of war staff and a senior advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, in an airstrike in central Tehran.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz indicated a hardline stance, saying there would be 'no negotiations with Iran' and hinting at regime change, stating that symbols of governance in Tehran were being systematically targeted.
The IDF revealed that over 50 fighter jets were involved in precision attacks, guided by intelligence aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. The strikes caused widespread blackouts, disrupted internet access, and triggered a humanitarian emergency, with over 330,000 residents evacuated from critical districts of Tehran.
Amid the military showdown, India's evacuation efforts mirror the complexity of managing civilian safety in urban war zones. Logistical challenges — such as fuel shortages, road congestion, and limited public shelters — compound the difficulties in moving people safely out of Tehran, a city of nearly 10 million. Metro stations, mosques, and schools have been opened for 24-hour refuge.
Iran has reported over 220 civilian casualties and more than 1,400 injuries from Israeli strikes, while Israel confirmed 24 deaths from Iran's missile attacks. The mutual targeting of urban centres has prompted allegations of war crimes from international watchdogs.
The conflict’s reverberations extend beyond the battlefield. Iran’s airspace is closed, major Gulf shipping lanes are disrupted, and Brent crude prices have surged to US$69.18 per barrel following a missile strike on an Iranian oil refinery. The risk of escalation involving Hezbollah and Iraq-based militias remains high.
The US, while not formally engaged in Israel’s offensive, is intercepting Iranian missiles targeting Israel and has begun evacuating diplomatic personnel from Baghdad, Bahrain and Kuwait. Embassies in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv remain shuttered until at least 20th June.
India has so far treaded cautiously, avoiding any political commentary while focusing on safeguarding its citizens. With strategic partnerships on both sides, defence and tech ties with Israel, and energy and connectivity projects with Iran, New Delhi's primary concern remains citizen safety and regional stability.
MEA has appealed for calm and reiterated its policy of non-intervention and peace through dialogue, even as it ramps up efforts to extract its nationals from what is quickly turning into a war zone.
With no signs of a ceasefire and the rhetoric sharpening on all sides, the humanitarian stakes are rising. As the conflict spills across borders and into the global arena, India's response highlights both the vulnerabilities of a large diaspora and the complex diplomacy required to navigate conflict zones without taking sides.
