New Delhi, June 14, 2025 — A growing number of Indian students studying in Iran have urgently appealed to the government for evacuation and safety assurances following the recent Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites near Tehran.
Among those calling for help is Tabiya Zahra, a second-year MBBS student from Kashmir at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, who described being shaken awake by the blast: “Right now the situation is calm and we are safe, but we are feeling scared. The attack started at around 3:30 am and we felt the land shake.” Zahra and her peers voiced frustrations about a lack of clear guidance regarding safer locations or contingency plans.
Alisha Rizvi, another MBBS student from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, said that the Indian embassy has requested updated local contact details and addresses “in case evacuation is needed.” She highlighted difficulties caused by unreliable internet and mobile networks.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, representing approximately 1,500 students in Iran, wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar seeking swift evacuation measures. JKSA national convener Nasir Khuehami warned that the students feel “extremely vulnerable” and stressed that “timely evacuation could be the difference between life and death”.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a cautionary advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant, avoid non-essential movement, and keep updated through official embassy communications.
This development follows large-scale Israeli strikes on June 13 against Iran’s nuclear complexes including Natanz and military installations. The attacks damaged critical facilities and triggered tremors in Tehran, prompting Iran to close its airspace and suspend flights from Imam Khomeini International Airport
India’s Ministry of External Affairs is monitoring the situation closely. While evacuation logistics are impeded by the airspace closure, embassy officials have been mapping student locations and await clearance from Tehran’s authorities to execute any evacuation.
As regional tensions escalate, the safety of Indian nationals particularly students is emerging as a pressing diplomatic concern. With no assurance of airspace reopening or cessation of strikes, students remain in limbo, fearing further violence.
