Amid US assurance to Iranian protestors, an Indian advisory to its citizens to leave country

These steps are being taken to gather information on the exact number of Indians who might need help, and their current location.

According to official estimates, about 10,000 Indians are living in Iran. They are spread all over the country, from religious seminaries in Qom to medical colleges in Tehran.

In an interview with CBS News, Trump promised “very strong action” if Iran executes protesters. “If they hang them, you are going to see some things,” he said. In a social media post, he also urged Iranians to keep protesting and take over institutions, declaring “help is on its way”.

The US President’s remarks suggested that a military option was being weighed against Iran which has been roiled by street protests. Iranian authorities are cracking down on the protesters and, according to rights groups monitoring the situation, over 2,000 people have been killed.

On Wednesday, the Indian embassy said “in view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran (students, pilgrims, business persons and tourists) are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights”.

It said “all Indian citizens and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) should exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, stay in contact with the Indian embassy in Iran and monitor local media for any developments”.

It asked all Indian nationals in Iran to keep their travel and immigration documents, including passports and identification papers, with them. They have been asked to contact the Indian embassy for any assistance.

The emergency contact helplines of the Indian embassy are: +989128109115, +989128109109, +989128109102, +989932179359. The email ID is: cons.tehran@mea.gov.in.

It also asked all Indian nationals, who are in Iran and have not registered with the Indian embassy, to do so. In case, they are unable to do that – because of Internet restrictions – their families in India are requested to do so.

This is the second time since June 2025 that India has had to take steps to alert and advise its citizens to leave Iran. At that time, Israel and, later, the US struck Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities, military bases and residences of Iranian officials. Tehran responded by striking Israel with missiles.

India had launched Operation Sindhu on June 18 to evacuate its nationals from conflict zones in Iran and Israel. A total of 4,415 Indian nationals (3,597 from Iran and 818 from Israel) were evacuated using 19 special evacuation flights including three IAF C-17 aircraft. Also evacuated from Iran were 14 OCI card-holders, 9 Nepali nationals, 4 Sri Lankan nationals and an Iranian spouse of an Indian national. The evacuated Indian nationals included more than 1,500 women and 500 children.

Sources said the Indian embassy is currently collecting all information and has activated the first step by advising everyone to leave via commercial flights. If the situation arises for the next step – where Indians are still stranded in Iran – then an evacuation will be ordered.

Tehran has warned neighbours hosting US troops that it will hit American bases if Washington strikes, a senior Iranian official told Reuters Wednesday. Three diplomats said some personnel had been advised to leave Al Udeid air base in Qatar, the main US air base in the region, although there were no immediate signs of a large-scale evacuation of troops as had taken place in the hours before an Iranian missile attack last year.