New Delhi|June,17 : India on Tuesday issued a fresh advisory urging its nationals and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) residing in Tehran to move out of the city, as the Iranian capital came under continued aerial attacks from Israeli drones and missiles.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran asked individuals who have the means to leave the city on their own and do so without delay. “All Indian Nationals and PIOs who can move out of Tehran using their own resources are advised to move to a safe location outside the city,” the advisory read. The embassy also appealed to Indian citizens who haven’t yet registered their presence to urgently contact the mission.
“All Indian Nationals who are in Tehran and not in touch with the Embassy are requested to contact the Embassy of India in Tehran immediately and provide their location and contact numbers,” it said, sharing three emergency helpline numbers: +98 9010144557, +98 9128109115, and +98 9128109109.
The advisory came as Israel and Iran entered the fifth day of relentless airstrikes on each other which have killed hundreds people on both sides. Iran claimed that 224 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in five days of fighting, while Israel has reported 24 civilian deaths. Around 3,000 Israelis have been evacuated.
In view of the escalating tensions, India has also initiated the evacuation of its citizens from Iran. According to government sources, the first batch of 110 Indian nationals crossed into Armenia in the intervening nights of Monday and Tuesday. India had urged Iran to ensure the safe evacuation of over 10,000 students stranded in the country. In response, Tehran, citing closure of its airspace, suggested students exit via land borders to Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan or Afghanistan.
Israel and Iran continued exchanging fire for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday. Iranian media reported blasts and heavy air defence activity in Tehran, with smoke seen in the city’s east after suspected Israeli strikes. Air defences were also activated in Natanz, site of major nuclear facilities, around 320 km from the capital, Asriran news website reported. In Israel, air raid sirens wailed in Tel Aviv after midnight, but there were no reports of missile strikes.
Iran has asked Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to persuade US President Donald Trump to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an immediate ceasefire, sources told news agency Reuters. In exchange, Tehran signalled it may adopt a more flexible stance in nuclear talks, according to two Iranian and three regional officials familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who cut short his G7 Summit in Canada, held a Security Room meeting with high officials to review the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Trump posted an ominous message on his social media platform calling for the immediate evacuation of Tehran. “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran,” he said.
