Iran Opens Airspace for India; First Batch of Evacuated Students Reaches Delhi Tonight

Iran Grants India Exclusive Airspace Access; First Batch of Evacuated Students Arrives Tonight.

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Iran has opened its otherwise restricted airspace exclusively for Indian evacuation flights. This move comes as part of Operation Sindhu, India’s emergency mission to bring home citizens stranded in conflict-hit Iranian regions.

Over 1,000 Indian students are expected to be evacuated over the next 48 hours. The first evacuation flight will land in New Delhi at 11:00 PM IST tonight, followed by two more on Saturday—one in the morning and another in the evening.

Iranian airspace remains closed to most global air traffic due to ongoing missile strikes and drone attacks involving Iranian and Israeli forces. However, New Delhi has secured exclusive clearance to operate humanitarian flights through a safe corridor.

“India accords highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, confirming ongoing coordination with both Tehran and Yerevan.

Students From High-Risk Zones Being Evacuated
Many of the stranded students are enrolled in Urmia Medical University in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province—a region close to the Turkish border that has witnessed recent missile activity. Most students on the first flight are from Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association, which said 90 of the 110 passengers are from the union territory.

Earlier this week, India evacuated a group of students by road from northern Iran to Armenia. These evacuees were flown from Yerevan to Delhi on a special flight that landed in the early hours of June 19.

“The Indian government is grateful to the governments of Iran and Armenia for facilitating the safe passage of our nationals,” an MEA spokesperson said.

Conflict Deepens Between Iran and Israel
The evacuation comes against the backdrop of an escalating conflict. The latest crisis began when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, reportedly targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran responded with a barrage of missiles and drones, leading to civilian casualties in Israeli towns.

On Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes hit sites near Tehran. Iranian media later reported hypersonic missile launches aimed at Israeli military targets, signaling further escalation.

Operation Sindhu Ongoing
More evacuation flights are expected over the weekend as Operation Sindhu continues. The MEA is monitoring the situation closely and remains in contact with families of students still awaiting return.