Commercial flights bring Indians home from Iran amid unrest

No evacuation ordered yet as commercial flights resume and Indians return from protest-hit Iran

January 17, 2026

No evacuation yet, but India remains alert as nationals return from Iran

Two regular flights landed in Delhi as unrest against the Khamenei regime eased; government says it is prepared for any contingency

Two commercial flights carrying Indian nationals from Iran landed in Delhi late last night amid recent violent protests against the Iranian leadership. Officials clarified that the flights were regular commercial operations and not part of any formal evacuation exercise.

The Indian government, however, said it remains prepared for any eventuality and continues to closely monitor the situation. Earlier, New Delhi had advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran as tensions escalated.

Air traffic between India and Iran had briefly been disrupted on January 15 following a temporary closure of Iranian airspace due to rising regional tensions. With flights resuming and the situation showing signs of stabilisation, several Indians chose to return home.

Upon arrival, the returnees thanked the Indian government and the Indian Embassy in Tehran for issuing timely advisories and extending assistance. The embassy had remained in contact with Indian pilgrims, tourists, students, and businesspersons amid the unrest.

An MBBS student who returned from Iran said she was aware of protests through reports but did not witness any agitation firsthand, adding that internet services were largely unavailable during her stay.

Another Indian national, who had been in Iran for a month, said difficulties began only in the past couple of weeks. “Protesters would stop vehicles and cause minor trouble. There was no internet, and we could not contact our families or the embassy, which made us anxious,” he said.

An electrical engineer who travelled to Iran for work said the overall situation had improved, with network disruptions being the primary issue he faced.

Another returnee said that while protests had turned violent in some areas, the number of demonstrators appeared smaller than those backing the regime, and thanked the government for facilitating the safe return of Indian students.

Iran witnessed widespread unrest in late December, with protests against the Ali Khamenei-led establishment and reports of a violent crackdown. The situation was further complicated by a war of words between the United States and Iran, fuelling fears of a broader conflict. However, tensions have since eased, with signs of normalcy returning.

India said it continues to monitor developments closely, with an estimated over 9,000 Indian nationals currently present in Iran.

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