Amid the worsening security and the internet shutdowns in Iran due to continued protests, several Indian citizens chose to return to Delhi. The first two commercial flights from Tehran landed in Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday night.
The Indian government had earlier warned its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran due to the growing unrest and demonstrations.
The passengers at the airport thanked the government for its assistance during the crisis.
One man who is a resident of Jammu and Kashmir said, ”The protests there were dangerous. The Indian government has made a very good effort and brought the students back."
#WATCH | Delhi | An Indian national who returned from Iran says, "I am a resident of Jammu and Kashmir... The protests there were dangerous. The Indian government has made a very good effort and brought the students back..." pic.twitter.com/SEB1uUoHKs
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
Many of the Indian nationals who returned cited the internet shutdown as the primary cause of concern, as they were unable to contact their families back home. Many also said that the situation in the country was normal and that they did not come across any protestors or unrest.
One medical student who returned spoke to ANI and said, "I am pursuing an MBBS at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The situation there is normal. There are no internet services. We heard about protests in Iran but never saw anything like that."
#WATCH | Delhi | An Indian national who returned from Iran says, "I am pursuing an MBBS at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The situation there is normal. There are no internet services. We heard about protests in Iran but never saw anything like that..." pic.twitter.com/lIbcEBTidp
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
Another man said, "We were there for a month. But we were only facing problems for the last one or two weeks. When we went outside, the protesters would come in front of the car. They would cause a little trouble. The internet was shut down, which is why we couldn't tell our families anything, so we were a little worried. We couldn't even contact the embassy."
#WATCH | Delhi | An Indian national who returned from Iran says, "We were there for a month. But we were only facing problems for the last one or two weeks...When we went outside, the protesters would come in front of the car. They would cause a little trouble...The internet was… pic.twitter.com/b8MVri37Rq
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
Iran has seen massive protests this month following a sharp fall in the Iranian rial and a deepening economic crisis in the country. Hundreds have been reported dead, and thousands have been arrested in the demonstrations.
The Indian embassy in Iran has been in touch with Indian tourists, pilgrims, students, and businessmen in the country for evacuation and assistance from Iran.
About 9000 Indians currently live in the country.
"The Ministry of External Affairs is closely monitoring the situation and remains focused on ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals," the MEA stated in a fresh advisory on Friday.
