By Sulagna Halder
Tehran/New Delhi, June 24, 2025:
Following an Israeli-Iranian ceasefire, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has announced that it is ending its evacuation effort for Indian citizens. According to officials, the embassy has closed its contact desk as part of the drawdown and is keeping a "careful eye" on the developing situation.
“Since there has been an announcement of ceasefire, the Embassy is gradually winding up the evacuation exercise initiated during the military conflict in Iran,” the embassy said in a statement posted on X on Tuesday night. Indians who intended to evacuate to Mashhad were advised to stay put and keep an eye on government updates.
Additionally, the embassy asked people who had moved to hotels in Mashhad that were set up by Indian authorities to move to the Sadr Hotel by June 26. Rooms at other establishments will be released. To give people time to evaluate the security environment, the Sadr Hotel's facilities will be open until check out time that day.
Additionally, the embassy stated that for a few more days, emergency contact channels, such as a telegram channel and helpline numbers, will be open for anyone in need.
"The Government of India is closely monitoring the situation and will reevaluate its approach in the event that the security of Indian nationals in Iran is threatened once more," a government spokesperson in New Delhi said. Over 3,000 Indians, including students, were evacuated during the operation. More than 1,100 Indians were able to return in a single day on June 24 thanks to Operation Sindhu, the evacuation campaign that began on June 18 and brought the total number of evacuees to over 3,170. Citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka also benefited from the exercise.
Although the operation is being loosened, embassy officials emphasized that their dedication to Indian nationals' safety has not changed. The embassy wrote, "Those Indians who had already traveled to Mashhad … are requested to shift to Sadr hotel today itself." Authorities will keep an eye on regional conditions as the mission comes to an end and be ready to reactivate evacuation procedures in the event that fighting breaks out again.
Operation Sindhu's prompt conclusion demonstrates India's logistical readiness and ability to assist its citizens overseas, even in unstable situations.
