Indians return amid unrest in Iran, reunite with families

Tears of anxiety gave way to waves of relief and gratitude at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport late Friday, as several Indian nationals arrived from chaos-torn Iran amid raging protests, a total internet blackout, movement restrictions and a crackdown on protestors in a volatile security situation.

Upon their return, Indians recalled how “dangerous” the situation in Iran was and thanked the Indian Government.

The arrivals followed advisories from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran, asking Indians, including students, pilgrims, businesspeople and tourists, to depart Iran using available transport options. The first two commercial flights carrying Indians from Iran landed in Delhi late last night, since violent protests erupted against the Khamenei regime.

These were regular flights and not part of any evacuation effort. Some flights from India had been impacted on January 15 due to a brief closure of the Iranian airspace amid escalating tensions. The situation now appears to be moving towards normalcy, though several Indians chose to return as air traffic resumes over Iran. Poignant scenes of relief and reunion unfolded at the IGI airport on early Saturday as families embraced their loved ones who returned from Iran amid the worsening security situation there.

While some welcomed their children with flower garlands, a father held his daughter to his chest, smiling as tears welled up in his eyes — a moving image capturing the tumult of emotions these families endured while their children were stranded amid the political unrest in Iran.

Since Friday night, families were seen waiting anxiously outside the arrival terminal of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, scanning every group of passengers emerging through the gates in the hope of spotting a familiar face. Many of those who returned from Iran on commercial flights, including students, described their last few days as tense and marked with uncertainty. 

“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’,” said a returnee after landing in Delhi. Another returnee spoke of the growing sense of insecurity in recent weeks. “We were there for a month. But we were only facing problems for the last one or two weeks. When we went outside, the protesters would come in front of the car and cause trouble.

The internet was shut down, which is why we could not tell our families anything. We were worried. We could not even contact the embassy,” he said. “It was a very difficult time,” said a student who arrived from Tehran.

“The situation on the streets was tense and the internet shutdown made us feel completely isolated. Reaching India and seeing our families waiting for us brought a sense of safety and relief,” she said.

Recalling his departure from unrest-hit Iran, another student, Shazid, said the situation was uncertain, and the lack of communication made it worse. “Once we were informed about the travel arrangements, there was a sense of relief. Reaching home and seeing our families waiting for us is something we truly needed,” he said. A young woman, who is studying at a medical college in Shiraz, said, “The internet was not working. So, we didn’t exactly know what was happening around the country.”  The student said the situation in the city she was in was “fine”.

“We have come back on our own in a commercial flight, and not on the arrangement of the Indian Government,” she said. Families said their anxiety peaked when there was a blackout, with little information about the safety of their loved ones. Some relief came after the Indian Embassy in Tehran stepped in, restored communication and began coordinating assistance for stranded nationals, they said.

Abbas Qazami, whose mother arrived on Saturday, recalled the anxious hours stretching into days as he awaited her safe return. “When the internet was shut, we were extremely worried. We had no way to contact her. Once communication resumed and the embassy became actively involved, we felt reassured. We registered with the embassy as soon as the advisory was issued, and after that, the process was smooth,” he said. Families said the Indian Embassy remained in constant touch with citizens stranded in Iran, issuing advisories and guiding them through the process of homecoming.

Mohd Abbas, a relative of another returnee, said even limited communication helped families cope with the uncertainty. “There was tension throughout, but we trusted the embassy and the Government. That trust helped us remain calm despite the situation,” he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier advised all its nationals in Iran, including students, pilgrims, businesspersons and tourists, to leave the country using any available means as the security situation deteriorated. The advisory followed massive anti-Government protests that began late last month after Iran’s currency, the Rial, plunged to record lows.