The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India announced on Monday that it has successfully facilitated the return of 1,777 Indian citizens from Iran, amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has now entered its second month. The successful evacuation was made possible through the support of authorities in Iran, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the media during an inter-ministerial briefing, highlighting the coordinated efforts of the Indian Embassy in Tehran in managing the evacuation.

Details of Evacuated Individuals

According to Jaiswal, the total number of evacuees includes 895 Indian students and 345 fishermen who were working in various capacities within Iran. The fishermen were evacuated via Armenia and arrived in India on April 4, landing in Chennai. Jaiswal also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by Armenian officials in facilitating this process.

Gratitude Expressed for International Support

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended his gratitude to Ararat Mirzoyan, the Armenian Foreign Minister, for the cooperation in ensuring the safe return of Indian fishermen from Iran. In a statement on X, Jaishankar thanked the Government of Armenia for its role in the successful evacuation efforts.

Foreign Nationals Also Assisted

In addition to Indian nationals, the embassy was involved in the evacuation of two foreign nationals, one from Bangladesh and another from Sri Lanka. Out of the 1,777 evacuated individuals, 1,545 crossed into Armenia, while 234 were transferred to Azerbaijan as part of the overall evacuation operations.

Casualties During Ongoing Conflict

Addressing concerns regarding casualties, Jaiswal confirmed that eight Indian nationals have lost their lives amid the ongoing conflict, with one individual reported missing. The mortal remains of seven of the deceased have been successfully repatriated to India, while efforts continue to bring back the remains of the eighth individual, which are currently pending due to certain technical issues. The Indian Embassy in Oman is actively working on this matter.

Context of the Conflict in West Asia

The current conflict escalated significantly following military strikes conducted jointly by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, which resulted in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Tehran targeted US and Israeli assets across several Gulf nations, leading to significant disruptions in maritime traffic and posing risks to international energy markets and global economic stability.

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