The Indian government has issued a fresh travel advisory urging all its nationals currently in Iran to leave the country at the earliest opportunity. Released on February 23 by the Indian Embassy in Tehran, the advisory comes against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and builds on a similar warning issued on January 5, 2026.
The Embassy has directed Indian nationals — including students, pilgrims, businesspersons, and tourists — to depart Iran using any available means of transport, including commercial flights. The advisory does not set a deadline but stresses urgency given the rapidly evolving situation on the ground.
"In continuation of the advisory issued by the Government of India on 5 January 2026, and 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," the official statement read.
Citizens who remain in the country have been asked to stay away from protest zones and areas of civil unrest, maintain regular contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran, and monitor local and international news for any developments.
The advisory applies to the entire spectrum of Indian nationals present in Iran. India has a notable presence of students enrolled in Iranian universities, Shia Muslim pilgrims visiting holy sites such as Mashhad and Qom, as well as a community of traders and businesspeople with ties to the Iranian market.
All of these groups are now being advised to prioritize their safety and make arrangements to return home as soon as possible. The government has also urged everyone to keep their passports and essential travel documents readily accessible at all times.
Indians who have not yet registered with the Embassy have been specifically asked to do so through the official online portal. For those inside Iran facing internet disruptions, family members based in India can complete the registration process on their behalf — an acknowledgment by the government of the potential communication difficulties that could arise in a conflict scenario.
In a sign of the seriousness with which the government is treating the situation, the Embassy released emergency contact numbers for immediate assistance:
The advisory arrives at a particularly tense moment for the region. Iran has been witnessing student-led protests in recent weeks, adding a layer of internal instability to an already volatile external environment.
On the international front, nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States remain at a critical juncture, with a new round of discussions expected in Geneva later this week. The talks have been shadowed by pointed remarks from US President Donald Trump, who has warned of serious consequences should diplomacy fail. Such statements have significantly heightened uncertainty about what may follow if talks collapse.
India, which maintains longstanding diplomatic and trade ties with Iran while also nurturing its strategic partnership with the United States, finds itself navigating a delicate balancing act. The evacuation advisory reflects New Delhi's cautious, citizen-first approach — consistent with similar measures it took during the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Gaza crisis in 2023.
This is not the first time India has moved quickly to secure the safety of its diaspora. The country has developed a well-practised protocol for crisis evacuations, including Operation Ganga (Ukraine, 2022) and Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023), among others. While no full-scale evacuation operation has been announced for Iran yet, the repeated advisories signal that New Delhi is closely monitoring the situation and may be preparing for contingencies.
For now, the government's message is clear: if you are in Iran, leave while you still can.
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