India’s Evacuation from Iran Crosses 1,400 Mark; Operation Sindhu Continues Despite US Bombings

India’s Operation Sindhu has so far brought home over 1,428 nationals from conflict-hit Iran, as evacuation efforts have been intensified amid ongoing hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

On Sunday afternoon, a special evacuation flight carrying 311 Indian citizens landed safely in New Delhi from Mashhad, according to External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. This follows a series of earlier flights that began late Friday night, when 290 students were first evacuated from Tehran.

Image Source: MEA/FM on X

The coordinated operation, launched as the security situation rapidly deteriorated after U.S. airstrikes targeted Iran’s key nuclear facilities, continues to prioritize the safe return of Indian nationals, many of whom are students. Approximately 10,000 Indians were residing in Iran at the onset of the conflict.

Thank you @DrSJaishankar for India's swift assistance in helping to evacuate Nepali nationals from Iran.

India's support in Nepal's evacuation efforts is a reflection of strength of Nepal- India ties.@IndiaInNepal @India_in_Iran

— Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba (@Arzuranadeuba) June 21, 2025

In a significant gesture, Iran had earlier allowed temporary access to its otherwise closed airspace to facilitate the evacuations. Indian authorities, working in close coordination with Tehran, had preemptively moved many of its citizens from the capital to relatively safer locations like Qom and Mashhad before initiating the airlift.

The conflict, now entering its second week, escalated dramatically after U.S. President Donald Trump authorized direct strikes on Iran's underground nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—drawing international concern over the risks of a broader war.

Russia has since warned that the escalation could spiral into a global conflict, with Kremlin officials sharply criticizing the U.S. actions.

As hostilities persist, India continues to engage diplomatically at the highest level. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke directly with Iran’s newly elected President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, reiterating New Delhi’s call for "immediate de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy" to restore regional stability.

Sources said operation Sindhu remains active, with additional flights planned to ensure the complete evacuation of remaining Indian nationals from the region.