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Indian diplomats are helping relocate students and other citizens within Iran as the country faces continued Israeli airstrikes, the foreign ministry said Monday. The assistance comes as Iran and Israel have exchanged deadly strikes since Friday, raising international concerns about a broader regional conflict.
"The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "In some cases, students are being relocated with (the) Embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran."
The relocations became necessary after Iran closed its airspace amid the hostilities. Tehran launched retaliatory attacks after Israel unleashed waves of bombardment against Iranian targets. India maintains diplomatic relations with both countries and has positioned itself as willing to help both sides.
According to government data, approximately 10,000 Indian citizens live in Iran, including more than 2,000 students as of 2022 figures.
The casualty toll continues to mount from the exchange of fire. Iran's health ministry reported at least 224 people killed in Israeli strikes, while Israeli authorities have counted more than a dozen deaths since Tehran began its retaliatory campaign Friday.
India called for restraint from both nations Friday, with foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal saying New Delhi stood ready "to extend all possible support" to both countries while urging them to "avoid any escalatory steps."
"Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised," Jaiswal said.
The conflict has sparked global alarm about the potential for a wider regional war as both countries continue military operations against each other.
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