Several Indian nationals returned to New Delhi from Iran late Friday night as unrest and communication blackouts continue across parts of the country, prompting advisories from Indian authorities.
The returnees arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, days after the Indian government urged its citizens in Iran to leave due to a deteriorating security situation. The Ministry of External Affairs has said it is closely monitoring developments and remains in touch with Indian nationals through the embassy in Tehran.
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Speaking to ANI, several returnees described the situation in Iran as tense, marked by protests and internet shutdowns.
One Indian national said conditions had worsened rapidly. “The situation there is bad. The Government of India cooperated a lot, and the embassy kept guiding us on how to leave Iran at the earliest,” he said after landing in Delhi.
#WATCH | Delhi | An Indian national who returned from Iran says, "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'..." pic.twitter.com/q1rEOYFWa4
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
Internet shutdowns as street protests added to anxiety
Another returnee said the situation became particularly difficult in the past two weeks. “When we went outside, protesters would stop vehicles and create problems. The internet was shut down, so we couldn’t inform our families or contact the embassy. That made things very stressful,” he told ANI.
A resident of Jammu and Kashmir, who had been in Iran for a month, said protests had turned dangerous. “The Indian government made a serious effort and brought students back safely,” he said.
Family members of those returning gathered at the airport to receive them, many expressing relief after days of uncertainty. One man waiting for his wife’s aunt, who had travelled to Iran on pilgrimage, said the family had been unable to contact her for days due to communication outages.
“We were worried because there was no internet. We thank the Government of India for coordinating their safe return,” he said.
Another relative said his sister-in-law was returning after a “war-like situation” emerged in parts of Iran. “We are relieved she is back safely,” he said.
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Embassy advisory, travel warning issued
The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier issued an advisory asking Indian nationals in Iran, including students, pilgrims, businesspeople and tourists to leave through available commercial flights, citing the “evolving situation”.
#WATCH | Delhi | On the situation in Iran, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Approximately 9,000 of our citizens are currently residing in Iran. The majority of them are students... In light of the recent developments there, we have issued two or three advisories. In these… pic.twitter.com/ivCAxwr7h9
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
The Indian Embassy in Tehran also urged Indians to remain cautious, avoid protest sites and follow official guidance. A separate advisory from New Delhi warned Indians against travelling to Iran until further notice.
The protests began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28 over the sharp fall of the Iranian rial and later spread to several cities. The unrest has been linked to economic pressures, including inflation, unemployment, power shortages and water scarcity.
