‘No internet, violent protests’: First flights from turmoil-hit Iran bring Indians home

These were regular passenger flights and not part of any official evacuation mission, officials clarified.

The arrivals come after widespread protests erupted against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering security concerns and disruptions across several cities.

Govt on alert as situation unfolds

While no formal evacuation has been announced, the Indian government has remained on high alert.

Earlier, New Delhi had advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran due to the volatile situation.

Air travel had also been disrupted briefly on January 15, when Iranian airspace was temporarily closed amid rising tensions.

Although operations have since resumed, many Indians opted to return home as flights became available.

Returnees thank Indian govt

Upon arrival, several passengers expressed gratitude to Indian authorities for their assistance during the crisis.

India’s Embassy in Tehran had issued multiple advisories and remained in constant touch with pilgrims, students, tourists and business professionals.

An MBBS student who returned said she was aware of the protests but did not witness any firsthand violence.

She said there was no internet access, making communication extremely difficult.

'We couldn’t contact our families'

Another Indian national, who had spent a month in Iran, said the situation worsened over the past two weeks.

He described how protesters blocked vehicles and created disturbances.

“There was no internet, so we couldn’t inform our families. We were worried and couldn’t even contact the embassy,” he said.

An electrical engineer working in Iran said he faced minimal issues except for persistent network disruptions during his stay.

Fear, fires and fading protests

One returnee said the atmosphere in Tehran had improved significantly. “There was fire and dangerous protests earlier.

People were scared. But later, there were fewer protesters compared to those supporting the regime,” he said, thanking the Indian government for facilitating their return.

Iran protests and deadly crackdown

Iran witnessed large-scale protests in late December, with demonstrations directed against the Khamenei regime.

Reports indicate a violent crackdown by authorities that allegedly claimed nearly 3,000 lives over the past two weeks.

The situation was further intensified by an exchange of threats between US President Donald Trump and the Iranian leadership, fuelling fears of possible military escalation.

India 'monitoring' closely

The unrest appears to have eased in recent days, with Trump softening his aggressive stance toward Tehran.

However, Indian authorities continue to closely monitor developments.

Currently, more than 9,000 Indian nationals are believed to be residing in Iran.

Officials have reiterated that they are prepared to take necessary measures should the security situation deteriorate again.