Iran Opens Airspace for Indian Evacuation Flights Amid Ongoing Israeli Strikes

 Iran Opens Airspace for Indian Evacuation Flights Amid Ongoing Israeli Strikes

As Israeli airstrikes continued for an eighth straight day, Iran has made a rare exception by opening its closed airspace to allow Indian nationals to return home safely. The move comes after requests from New Delhi to help evacuate around 1,000 Indians, including many students, stranded in Iran due to the escalating conflict.

Three or more chartered flights are being arranged by the Indian Embassy in Tehran, operated by an Iranian airline. The first of these flights, carrying 290 Indian students from Mashhad, landed safely in Delhi on Friday night. Additional flights are expected over the weekend, according to Iran’s Acting Ambassador.

Another group of Indians who had crossed into Turkmenistan is also being brought home via a separate chartered flight from Ashgabat, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed.

“Our airspace is officially closed due to the ongoing conflict, but we are making special arrangements for Indian citizens to ensure their safe return,” said Mohammad Javed Hossaini, Iran’s Deputy Chief of Mission.

He reassured that most of the roughly 10,000 Indians living in Iran were unharmed, though a few sustained injuries during a recent strike that hit a college hostel in Tehran. Hossaini also urged India and other Global South countries to take a firm stand against Israel’s actions.

A Call for Global Condemnation

“It’s not just about Iran,” Hossaini said. “If no one condemns these aggressions, it sets a dangerous precedent. Other nations might feel emboldened to act similarly, using baseless justifications to attack their neighbors.” He pointed to earlier Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Syria in 2024 as part of a worrying trend.

So far, India has avoided directly criticizing either side. In its June 14 statement, the MEA expressed “deep concern,” called for restraint, and emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy. It also said the government was closely monitoring reports of attacks on nuclear sites.

India notably distanced itself from a joint statement issued by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), of which Iran is a member, that strongly condemned Israel’s actions. India stated it was not part of the discussions leading to that release.

When asked about this, Hossaini said Iran wasn’t “disappointed,” but did hope for stronger support. “We understand India’s diplomatic approach, but our expectations are higher,” he noted.

Straits of Hormuz Not Off the Table

Responding to a question from The Hindu, Hossaini did not rule out the possibility of Iran shutting down the strategic Straits of Hormuz if tensions continue to escalate. Such a move would have serious implications for global shipping and energy supplies.

Still, he held out hope that ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and European powers (the E3) would help lower the temperature and avoid further regional fallout.

For now, Iran’s focus remains on ensuring the safe return of foreign nationals, including Indians, as the conflict continues to simmer.