Since the conflict erupted in Iran, Shakeel Ahmad, 45, from Delhi, has spent many sleepless nights. Each phone call sends a jolt of fear through the father, anxious for his 21-year-old daughter studying medicine in Tehran.

"Missiles landed close to the dormitory, causing plaster to fall from the ceiling," Ahmad recounted his daughter's words over the phone. She and her classmates often sleep in the hallway to avoid injury, facing loud explosions in the sky. The family had high hopes when sending their child abroad due to the high cost of medical education in India; now, they only wish for her safety.

Escalating conflict in the Middle East has left many Indian international students stranded in Iran, unable to return home. Photo: Indiatimes

According to the All India Medical Students' Association (AIMSA), about 3,000 Indian students are studying in Iran. Over 1,000 have managed to leave, while about 1,200 remain stranded, awaiting evacuation. Mohammad Momin Khan, AIMSA President, stated that repatriating these students is a top priority, as many areas are no longer safe.

In Srinagar, Shaheena Jan lives in constant worry, communicating with her daughter in Tehran through intermittent phone calls. "The building could be bombed at any moment. She has to interrupt her exams and is just pleading to be rescued," Shaheena said.

Previously, the Indian government advised citizens to leave Iran, but a rigid exam schedule in early March left many students trapped. Asif Ahmad, from Kashmir state, reported that he had only managed to bring one daughter home; the other had to stay because the university refused to postpone exams.

Financial difficulties also pose a significant barrier as evacuation demand rises. Airfare from Armenia to India has surged to over 120,000 rupees (USD 1,300). Nasir Khuehami, coordinator for the Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association, stated that many students have run out of money for food and lost internet access due to damaged telecommunications infrastructure.

Calls for help frequently appear on social media. A group of students from Arak University, including Ifra Ahmed, remains stranded in the conflict's epicenter and has not received a response from the Embassy regarding aid. Doctor Mohammad Momin Khan proposed that the government quickly re-establish the evacuation route through the Armenian border—successfully used in 6/2025—before it is too late.

On 5/3, 107 students from Urmia University sent an urgent letter requesting the Indian Embassy's assistance for ground evacuation to Armenia or Azerbaijan.

A young woman returning from Abu Dhabi (UAE) broke down in tears at Delhi International Airport (India) on 3/3. Photo: Bhaskar English

A representative from India's Ministry of External Affairs declared the safety of its diaspora as a top priority and activated a 24/7 hotline to help citizens find refuge.

New Delhi supports an early end to the conflict, as regional tensions quickly escalate following US-Israel airstrikes. Retaliatory missile and drone attacks consistently target critical infrastructure, turning the risk of full-scale conflict into a harsh reality.

Minh Phuong (According to RT, The Hindu)