The Government of India issued a stern advisory appealing to its Iranian residents, urging them to leave the country as soon as they can in a context where security is at a sharp, rising stage. Based on an urgent “evolving situation” and threat of a regional conflict at the door, the Indian embassy in Tehran has directed students, pilgrims, tourists and business people alike to head out using all commercial transport now readily available to them!
The move follows a massive U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf and a sequence of stalled diplomatic talks, as have put the Middle East on "Code Red" alert.
The “Leave Now” Directive: Who Gets Affected?
The new advisory is the strictest warning from New Delhi since the start of the year, following a preliminary travel advisory issued on January 5. There are an estimated 10,000 or so Indian nationals in Iran, including large numbers of medical students and Shia pilgrims visiting places of worship in Qom and Mashhad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
These persons are reminded by the Embassy that their travel documents and immigration documents, such as passports and residency IDs, should be ready for immediate departure. “All Indian nationals in Iran are requested to leave the country by existing transport means, including commercial flights,” the advisory said.
Those that can’t leave right away have been asked to keep indoors, avoid areas of protest, and have to stay in communication with embassy officials, the mission has said.
Why now? The US-Iran Military Standoff
The timing of this advisory is directly linked to the unprecedented military posture of the Trump administration. As of late February 2026, the U.S. has a huge refueling tankers and fighter planes "Air Bridge" crossing the Atlantic. Two aircraft carrier strike groups the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford have placed themselves within striking range of the Iranian coast. Even as indirect nuclear talks are set to resume in Geneva this Thursday, February 26, Washington’s rhetoric has risen to a kinetic level.
President Trump has recently said “bad things will happen” if a meaningful deal is never struck, and Iranian officials have also pledged a “crushing response” to any American or Israeli aggression. The government’s “maximum pressure” strategy has resulted in considerable domestic unrest in Iran, with student-led protests in top universities in Tehran and Mashhad intensifying unrest, and this further complicates the safety of foreign nationals.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has set up 24/7 emergency hotlines to help citizens through evacuation procedures and document checks. Also, Indian citizens are encouraged to register their presence on the MEA's official portal so that if air space is suddenly shut down, there is unified assistance in what we can do.
Emergency Helpline Numbers (Indian Embassy in Tehran):
- +98 912 810 9115.
- +98 912 810 9109.
- +98 912 810 9102.
- +98 993 217 9359.
Now in a rapidly narrowing window for a safe exit, as airlines like IndiGo have already suspended flights over Iranian-airport routes and other international carriers are making this move. New Delhi’s message is clear: the time for caution has passed; the time for departure is now.
