A total of 1,043 Indians evacuated, including 717 students, from Iran into Armenia and Azerbaijan amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, according to the Ministry of External Affairs on March 25, 2026.
Indian missions in the region are actively assisting those who remain by providing consular services and logistical support, said Aseem Mahajan, additional secretary for the Gulf in the external affairs ministry, during a media briefing.
Mahajan also noted that some Indians evacuated from Israel into Jordan as part of the evacuation efforts. Since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, following military strikes by Israel and the US on Iran, India has prioritized the safety of its 10 million citizens in the region.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of six Indian nationals, with one person reported missing. Approximately 426,000 individuals have returned to India since the conflict began, facilitated by 2,149 scheduled and non-scheduled flights from West Asia.
Limited flights continue from the United Arab Emirates to India, with 80 flights operating on March 25. Flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia are ongoing, while airspace over Kuwait and Bahrain remains closed.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry, reported that 20 Indian-flagged merchant vessels carrying 540 sailors are stationed in the Persian Gulf, awaiting a safe time to navigate the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has permitted Indian-flagged LPG carriers to traverse the strait, which has been effectively closed since the conflict began. Two LPG carriers recently delivered 92,000 metric tonnes of LPG to Indian ports, with additional deliveries expected at Kandla and New Mangalore ports on March 26 and 27.
Meanwhile, India has secured its first Iranian LPG cargo in years following a temporary US waiver on sanctions. The tanker Aurora is set to arrive at Mangalore’s port.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a conversation with US President Donald Trump, emphasized the need for de-escalation and the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global stability.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 26, 2026
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