Unfortunate Circumstances and No Internet: Indians Return Home from Iran Amid Unrest, Thank Government

A mix of anxiety, relief, and heartfelt gratitude filled the arrival terminal at Indira Gandhi International Airport late Friday night as multiple Indian citizens landed in Delhi after departing Iran. Their return followed advisories issued by New Delhi urging Indian nationals to leave the country amid deteriorating security conditions.

The arrivals were facilitated after the Indian Embassy in Tehran and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asked Indians — including tourists, pilgrims, students, and business travellers — to exit Iran using any available means of transport. The government assured citizens that it was closely monitoring the evolving situation and remained fully committed to their safety and well-being.

Several returnees described worsening ground realities in Iran, marked by protests, movement restrictions, and prolonged internet shutdowns. “It’s a very bad situation there. Modi ji hai toh sab mumkin hai,” said one Indian national upon arrival in Delhi. “The Indian government has been extremely cooperative, and the embassy guided US on how to leave Iran at the earliest.”

Another returnee said the sense of insecurity had grown sharply over the past two weeks. “We stayed there for about a month, but problems started recently. Protesters would block our vehicles when we stepped out. The internet was completely shut down, and we couldn’t contact our families,” he recalled. “We were worried and couldn’t even reach the embassy at one point.”

A resident of Jammu and Kashmir who also returned from Iran described the protests as highly dangerous. “The situation was very risky. The Indian government has done an excellent job in bringing students back safely,” he said.

Outside the arrival gate, families waited nervously, many having gone days without hearing from their loved ones due to the communication blackout. One man waiting for his wife’s aunt, who had travelled to Iran on a pilgrimage, said New Delhi’s response had reassured them. “India and Iran have long shared friendly relations, and we have full faith in the Modi government. We thank the Government of India for ensuring her safe return,” he said.

Another relative waiting for his sister-in-law described the situation as “war-like.” “The internet was down and we had no way to contact her. We were extremely concerned,” he said. “Now that she is returning safely, we feel relieved and thankful for the arrangements made by the Indian government during such difficult times.”

A separate family member said his mother and aunt were returning after three days of complete silence. “We were very worried. They are finally coming back to India today,” he said.

Citing the rapidly evolving situation, the Indian Embassy in Tehran advised Indian citizens to depart via commercial flights and other available routes. At the same time, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated its advisory urging Indians not to travel to Iran until further notice.

The MEA reaffirmed its earlier January 5 advisory, which had urged Indian nationals already in Iran to remain vigilant, avoid large gatherings, and stay away from protests and demonstrations.

The unrest in Iran began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28 following the Iranian rial’s sharp fall to record lows. The protests quickly spread across several regions, fueled by economic distress caused by power outages, water shortages, unemployment, and soaring prices.

Officials said coordination with the Indian Embassy in Tehran remains ongoing as New Delhi continues to assess the fast-changing situation on the ground. More Indian citizens are expected to return home in the coming days.