Have Indian Students Been Evacuated from Tehran Amid Rising Tensions?

New Delhi, June 17 (NationPress) Indian students residing in Tehran have been evacuated from the city, with some Indian nationals receiving assistance to exit the country via the border with Armenia, as reported by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday in light of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

As the conflict reached its fifth day, tensions heightened as numerous missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel, resulting in the activation of air raid sirens in Haifa and multiple other locations in northern Israel as well as the occupied Golan Heights, as confirmed by the Israeli military.

"Indian students in Tehran have been relocated for safety reasons, facilitated through the Embassy's arrangements. Other Indian residents with their own means of transport have also been encouraged to leave the city in light of the evolving situation," stated the MEA.

Additionally, the MEA confirmed that some Indians have been assisted in departing Iran via the border with Armenia.

The Ministry emphasized that the Indian Embassy is in constant communication with the community to provide necessary support, with plans for further advisories concerning the safety of Indian nationals.

Earlier, India urged its citizens in Iran, along with Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), to evacuate Tehran and move to safer areas due to rising tensions in the region.

The Indian Embassy in Iran posted on X: "All Indian nationals and PIOs capable of relocating from Tehran using their own resources are advised to seek safety outside the city."

Indians were encouraged to maintain contact with the Embassy, providing their locations and phone numbers.

The Embassy also shared helpline numbers: +989010144557, +989128109115, +989128109109, to aid in the evacuation efforts.

This advisory comes amidst Israel's warning to residents in central Tehran, indicating a potential escalation in military actions against Iran.

Avichay Adraee, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, called for evacuations in District C, located in northeastern Tehran, stating, "In the coming hours, the Israeli army will be operating in this area as it has in recent days in other parts of Tehran to target military infrastructure associated with the Iranian regime."

"Your presence in this area poses a danger to your life," he added. "For your safety and security, we implore you to evacuate promptly."

This district houses several crucial state institutions, government offices, and semi-governmental organizations along with communication and intelligence facilities, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.

The Israeli military announced that since early morning, Israeli warplanes have targeted trucks carrying weapons and surface-to-air missile launchers moving from western Iran towards Tehran.