Indian embassy relocates majority of students from Tehran amid escalation

India on Tuesday said its embassy in Iran has relocated the majority of Indian students from Tehran in view of the deteriorating security situation in the Iranian capital.

“Due to the heightened risk perception in Tehran city, the embassy of India has relocated most Indian students who were in Tehran,” the mission said in a statement. The students have been moved to locations outside the capital, with arrangements made for their transportation, food and accommodation.

The embassy said only a small number of students who declined its offer remain in Tehran. “For other Indian students and Indian nationals who still remain in Iran, the advisory issued earlier remains unchanged: stay where you are, remain indoors as far as possible, and stay away from windows,” it said.

In a fresh advisory, the mission urged Indians to exercise caution at all times, avoid visiting areas of protests or demonstrations and remain in regular contact with the embassy.

Around 9,000 Indians, including students, are learnt to be in Iran, though the exact number of students is not immediately known.

The move comes as the conflict in West Asia escalated further, with the United States and Israel carrying out fresh strikes on Iran, while Tehran launched retaliatory attacks targeting Israel and American military facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Iran has also announced a blockade of the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz shipping route, a key global energy corridor, triggering a surge in international oil prices.

The US military has said six of its personnel have been killed so far in the conflict. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said at least 787 people were killed in the US-Israeli strikes, while reports said at least 11 people have died in Israel.