India urges citizens in Iran to leave as US tensions escalate

Monday 23 February 2026 - 11:50

By: Dakir Madiha

India urges citizens in Iran to leave as US tensions escalate

India has issued its strongest warning yet to its nationals in Iran, urging all citizens, including students, pilgrims, business travellers and tourists, to leave the country immediately using any available means of transport, including commercial flights. The latest advisory, dated February 23 and released by the Indian Embassy in Tehran, cites the rapidly deteriorating security environment amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States and the growing risk of a wider military confrontation in the region.

The embassy said the notice was being issued in continuation of earlier advisories released in early January, which had first asked Indians to avoid non-essential travel to Iran and then recommended that those already in the country depart at the earliest opportunity. It reiterated that all Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin in Iran should exercise a high degree of caution, avoid areas where protests or demonstrations may occur, stay in regular contact with the mission and follow local media and official channels for real-time updates on the situation. The advisory stressed that anyone who has not yet registered with the embassy should do so immediately through the official online portal, while families in India were asked to complete registrations on behalf of relatives who may be affected by internet disruptions inside Iran.

New Delhi’s guidance comes as Washington and Tehran edge closer to a potential military clash over Iran’s nuclear activities and regional posture. President Donald Trump has dramatically tightened pressure on Tehran in recent weeks, publicly warning that Iran has only a narrow window to accept a new nuclear arrangement and confirming that he has reviewed options for limited strikes that could be expanded if diplomacy fails. Reports in US media say the administration has assembled detailed targeting plans and is weighing a calibrated opening attack followed by a broader campaign should Iran continue to advance its nuclear program in defiance of Western demands.

At the same time, the United States has staged a significant build-up of forces across the Middle East, positioning two aircraft carrier strike groups, long-range bombers, fighter jets and refuelling aircraft within range of Iranian territory. Naval deployments in the Arabian Sea and surrounding waters, combined with stepped-up military exercises by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard units, have heightened fears that any miscalculation or incident at sea could serve as a trigger for open conflict. Regional diplomats warn that a war involving Iran and the US would have sweeping consequences for shipping lanes, energy markets and the large expatriate communities scattered across the Gulf and beyond.

Despite the military posturing, diplomatic channels remain open. Indirect talks between the US and Iran, facilitated by Oman and European intermediaries, are scheduled to resume this week in Geneva, with negotiators seeking a framework to limit Iran’s nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has signalled that Tehran still sees a pathway to a deal, saying there is a realistic chance of a diplomatic solution if Western governments show flexibility on enrichment limits and sequencing of sanctions rollbacks. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors is also preparing to meet in Vienna to consider a resolution on Iran, adding pressure on both sides to show progress at the negotiating table.

India’s decision to toughen its travel guidance reflects concern for an estimated several thousand citizens currently in Iran, many of them medical students enrolled at universities across the country and Shia pilgrims visiting religious centres such as Qom and Mashhad. Previous advisories from the Ministry of External Affairs and the embassy have outlined contingency planning, including the activation of emergency helplines, consular coordination with Iranian authorities and the possibility of arranging additional flights if commercial capacity becomes constrained. Indian companies with staff in Iran have also been urged in separate guidance to review their evacuation and insurance plans in light of the deteriorating security outlook.

Other governments have taken similar steps in recent weeks, signalling a broader international judgment that the risk of conflict involving Iran is rising. Several European countries have urged their nationals to leave, adjusted embassy staffing levels or temporarily closed missions in Tehran as a precaution. Diplomats say that while no major power is actively seeking war, the density of military assets and the fragility of the diplomatic track mean the margin for error is narrowing, leaving foreign nationals and expatriate communities exposed if the crisis tips into open hostilities.