Several Indian citizens, including students and pilgrims, landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport late on Friday after being brought back from Iran amid the worsening security situation. The Middle Eastern country has seen massive protests this month – with hundreds killed and thousands more arrested – following a sharp fall in the Iranian rial and a subsequent trader strike that began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar.
India is currently monitoring the situation and making efforts to facilitate the return of citizens wishing to leave the country, with officials urging the estimated 9,000 Indians in Iran to leave via any available means.
The first flight took off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) on Friday evening. Officials said the first flight bringing Indians home from Iran – Mahan Air flight W5-071 from Tehran – arrived safely at the Delhi airport. Families gathered at the terminal to welcome their relatives, including many pilgrims who had been stuck there during the unrest.
The arrivals come after the Indian governmenturged its citizens in Iranto consider returning because of the unstable conditions. The Ministry of External Affairs said it is closely watching the situation and is focused on ensuring the safety of Indian nationals.
Returnee says conditions is getting ‘worse’
One Indian who came back said the situation in Iran is getting worse and thanked Indian authorities for their help. “The conditions are bad there. The Government of India is cooperating a lot and the Embassy provided us with information on leaving Iran as early as possible. ‘Modi ji hai toh har cheez mumkin hai’,” he told news agency ANI.
“My wife’s aunt went to Iran on a pilgrimage. Iran has always been a good friend of India and we were very confident in the Modi government, which continuously supported it. We thank the government of India for making this possible. We are very happy as our family member is returning to India…” a family member of an Indian National returning from Iran told PTI.
#WATCH | Delhi | "My wife's aunt went to Iran on a pilgrimage…Iran has always been a good friend of India and we were very confident in the Modi government, which continuously supported…We thank the government of India for making this possible. We are very happy as our family… pic.twitter.com/RC3yvFr7Eu
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
Another person who returned explained that the last few weeks had been the most difficult because communication was restricted.
“We were there for a month, but we faced problems mainly in the last one or two weeks. When we went outside, protesters would come in front of the car and cause some trouble. The internet was shut down, which is why we couldn’t tell our families anything and were worried. We couldn’t even contact the embassy,” he told ANI.
A third returnee from Jammu and Kashmir said things had become dangerous. “The Indian government has made a very good effort and brought the students back,” he told ANI.
Government sources told CNN-News18 that preparations are being made to respond according to how the situation changes, including helping more Indians return if needed. Officials said they are reviewing plans regularly as events unfold.
Students stranded across Iran being tracked
MEA sources also confirmed to the news outlet that they are collecting details of Indian students stuck in different parts of Iran, though the process has been slowed by internet shutdowns in several regions.
The Ministry of External Affairs again strongly advised Indians not to travel to Iran until further notice. It repeated its January 5 advisory asking those already in the country to stay alert and avoid protests or large gatherings.
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What triggered the unrest
The unrest began on December 28 at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar after a sharp fall in the Iranian rial. The currency’s collapse came on top of multiple crises in the country, such as water shortages, frequent power cuts, rising unemployment and high inflation.
The currency lost roughly 40% of its value in just six months, largely due to a 12-day military conflict with Israel in June 2025 and the reimposition of “snapback” UN sanctions.
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US President Donald Trumphas threatened a 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran and has reportedly reviewed military “strike options” with the Pentagon. |
