Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday, 10 June reaffirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unwavering commitment to the safety and welfare of Indian nationals overseas, citing past evacuation operations as proof of intent and capability.

Puri's Assurance on Future Crises

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Puri stated that the Indian government would mount similar rescue efforts in any future global crisis. He pointed to the Russia-Ukraine war of February 2022 as a defining example, when between 26,000 and 30,000 Indian students were stranded in Ukraine as hostels were damaged by bombings. 'Modi ji is the only leader in the world who said that we will bring our children back from there,' Puri said.

Notably, the repatriation effort extended beyond Indian passport holders. Puri confirmed that students of Indian origin carrying American passports were also evacuated. 'Even American citizens, Indian origin children whose passports were American, we brought them too,' he said.

Iran Travel Advisory and Regional Escalation

Puri's remarks come amid a fresh Government of India travel advisory urging Indian nationals in Iran to leave the country immediately by all available means, as regional tensions escalate. When asked about the advisory, Puri declined to speculate on the duration of the conflict, citing his position as a Union Minister, but drew on the Ukraine precedent to signal readiness. 'I hope that such a situation should not arise again. But, if need arises, I am sure that Modi Ji's decision, going by experience, he will have feelings and commitment towards the Indian origin communities and Indian nationals,' he said.

India's Track Record of Evacuation Operations

Under PM Modi's leadership, the Centre has conducted several large-scale evacuation and repatriation operations, spanning conflict zones, natural disasters, and health emergencies. These include Operation Raahat (Yemen, 2015), Operation Devi Shakti (Afghanistan, 2021), and Operation Ganga (Ukraine, 2022). A film has also been made documenting the Ukraine evacuation, Puri noted.

What This Signals for Indians in Iran

The advisory and Puri's public statements together suggest the Centre is closely monitoring the situation in Iran. With a significant Indian diaspora in the Gulf and West Asia, any escalation in the region carries direct humanitarian implications for New Delhi's foreign policy calculus. This is the latest in a series of advisories India has issued to its nationals in conflict-adjacent regions since 2022, reflecting a more proactive consular posture.