India is preparing to evacuate its citizens from Iran in view of the ongoing protests, official sources said on Thursday (January 15, 2026). MEA sources have told The Hindu that the Embassy of India in Tehran have started reaching out to Indian citizens to figure out the scale of the logistical exercise that would be required to fly multiple airlift sorties between India and Iran.

Iran protests LIVE on January 15, 2026

The plans for evacuation were started after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussed the evolving situation over a phone call on Wednesday (January 14, 2026). Indian citizens, consisting of students, pilgrims and business professionals, are concentrated in large urban centres of Iran like Qom, Tehran and Esfahan and other urban centres scattered across Iran.

Coordination in the current circumstances is challenging as Iran continues to black out internet services across its territory making communication between the Indian embassy and citizens. However, some Indian citizens especially students have been able to remain online as understandably they are able to access the internet services of neighbouring countries like Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Officials, however, cautioned that evacuation in the prevailing situation remains challenging as it would require support of the Iranian security services that are currently stretched thin in dealing with domestic law and order challenges related to the uprising.

Indian officials cautioned against rumours in this context, as the movement of a large number of people through protest-prone areas may be risky. Iran had temporarily closed its airspace on Wednesday (January 14, 2026), but reopened it on Thursday (January 15, 2026), which has increased the chances of India sending aircraft to Tehran. However, the operation would require considerable support from the Iranian side, officials here suggested.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday (January 15, 2026) appointed a nodal officer to coordinate with the Centre and diplomatic authorities for the safety and possible evacuation of residents and students from the Union Territory stranded in Iran amid the prevailing tension there.

In a related development, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) claimed that the first batch of students is likely to return to India on Friday (January 16, 2026).

According to a government order issued by the General Administration Department, Additional Resident Commissioner Anil Sharma has been designated as the officer for coordination and liaison in respect of residents and students of Jammu and Kashmir presently residing or studying in Iran.

The officer has been tasked with coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, the concerned Indian embassy and consular authorities, and other relevant agencies to facilitate information sharing, coordination and necessary interventions relating to the safety, welfare, travel facilitation and related matters of students from the Union Territory.

The great reckoning: On the crises in Iran

The appointment comes amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in Iran following widespread protests and rising fears of further escalation, prompting concerns among families of Indian students, particularly those from Kashmir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday (January 15, 2026) said he spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar regarding the evolving situation in Iran and was assured that all necessary steps were being taken to safeguard the interests of students from Jammu and Kashmir caught in the turmoil.

India has already advised its nationals residing in Iran to leave the country by available means and avoid any further travel there.

Meanwhile, the JKSA said Iran has reopened its airspace to civilian traffic after a temporary closure, bringing a measure of relief to anxious students and their families. The association claimed that the first evacuation flight from Tehran to Delhi is scheduled to depart on Friday (January 16, 2026).

“All students have been duly registered, the Indian embassy has collected their personal details and passports, and the first batch has been informed to remain ready by 8 a.m.,” the JKSA said in a statement.

It further said students from Golestan University, along with a few students from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, are likely to be part of the first evacuation batch.

The final passenger list is expected to be shared later on Thursday (January 15, 2026) once confirmed by the authorities, it said.

The JKSA said it has been in touch with several Indian students, including those from Kashmir, studying in Shiraz, Arak and other cities in Iran, many of whom have booked tickets and are expected to arrive from Friday (January 16, 2026) onwards, subject to clearances from the Iranian government and the prevailing security situation.

Parents of Kashmiri students have also appealed to the Centre to ensure the safe return of their children, with several concerned families gathering at the Press Enclave in Srinagar on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) to seek immediate government intervention.