MEA says India helping stranded citizens in Iran amid West Asia conflict

The Ministry of External Affairs MEA on Thursday said India is actively working to assist its nationals stranded in Iran while simultaneously addressing concerns related to maritime safety and the countryrsquos energy security amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia reported news agency IANSDuring a weekly media briefing in New Delhi MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is closely monitoring the evolving situation and has taken several steps to support Indian citizens currently in IranSeveral Indian nationals return home amid tensionsJaiswal said India has around 9000 citizens currently residing in Iran including students seafarers professionals businesspeople and pilgrimsFollowing earlier advisories issued by Indian authorities several Indian nationalsmdashparticularly studentsmdashhave already returned to India The government is continuing to facilitate the safe relocation and evacuation of others who wish to leave the country reported IANSldquoWe have around 9000 Indian nationals in Iran Following advisories issued earlier several Indian nationals especially students have already returned homerdquo Jaiswal said reported IANSHe also informed that several Indians based in Tehran including students and pilgrims have been shifted to safer locations and cities within Iran as a precautionary measureAssistance being provided for evacuation through neighbouring countriesThe MEA said it is also assisting Indian nationals who wish to leave Iran through land routes by helping them travel to neighbouring countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia reported IANSAccording to Jaiswal Indian missions are helping citizens with visa arrangements and border crossing procedures so they can travel to these countries and then board commercial flights back to IndialdquoWe are assisting Indian nationals who wish to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia and from there to take commercial flights to return homerdquo he said reported IANSThe MEA also urged Indian citizens planning to leave Iran via land borders to strictly follow the advisory issued by the Embassy of India Tehran on March 9Government monitoring safety of shipping and energy supplyResponding to questions about the security of maritime routes Jaiswal said the government is also closely monitoring the movement of vessels near the Strait of Hormuz one of the worldrsquos most critical energy transit corridors reported IANSHe revealed that Indiarsquos External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has held multiple conversations in recent days with Iranrsquos Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas AraghchildquoThe External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of Iran have had three conversations in recent days In the last one they discussed issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and Indiarsquos energy securityrdquo Jaiswal said reported IANSDiplomatic engagement continues amid regional conflictEarlier this week Jaishankar held a detailed telephone conversation with Araghchi regarding the latest developments in the West Asia conflictIn a post on X Jaishankar said the two leaders agreed to remain in touch as the situation continues to evolveThe ministers had also spoken earlier on March 5 and February 28 discussing the rapidly changing security environment in the region and Indiarsquos concerns over escalating tensionsOfficials said the series of diplomatic engagements reflects Indiarsquos proactive approach to safeguarding its citizens abroad while ensuring that critical energy supplies and maritime trade routes remain secure during the ongoing geopolitical crisis involving Iran the United States and IsraelWith inputs from IANS