Amidst tenuous ceasefire between Iran and U.S., groups undertake gruelling journeys to cross over into Azerbaijan and Armenia
Braving the conflict, a gruelling drive and long waits at the border, a batch of Indians returned from Iran over the weekend, including all family members of Indian diplomats based there, using the pause in hostilities to make their way back.
The return journey of the groups – which came over the Azerbaijan border and flew back from Baku, and over the border to Armenia – was coordinated by the Indian embassy in Tehran liaising with the Iranian government during the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire announced on April 8, officials told The Hindu.
Iran-Israel war LIVE updates
More than 2,400 Indians have been assisted to leave Iran since the start of the war, including medical students, fishermen, workers, seafarers, a few business travelers, and about 150 religious seminary students, with the embassy organising travel and living arrangements.
Among the latest batch, 34 family members of Indian diplomats and teachers at the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Tehran, including 16 children, travelled through the Iran-Azerbaijan border at Astara. The route involved a nine-hour drive and then a wait of some days at the border. A few others, including the family members of those posted at the Indian consulate in Bandar Abbas, took the longer route of about 30 hours by road to the Armenian border and then to the capital Yerevan.
While the families of diplomats and Indian staff had stayed through the worst of the conflict and bombardment by U.S.-Israel across Iran from February 28, with most of them living inside the embassy itself, the government decided to use the ceasefire period to bring them back.
The war saw many areas in the capital Tehran flattened, and although the Indian embassy and its surrounding areas were not targeted by U.S.-Israel strikes, powerful explosions could be heard consistently, an official said. In addition, regular food supplies became a worry. Finally, concerns escalated as the U.S.-set deadline for Iran to comply with its demands drew to a close, and U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning that a “civilization will die”, a statement that was condemned around the world, including by the UN Chief Antonio Guterres.
Amidst the tenuous ceasefire that followed, the government decided to pull out all remaining Embassy staff members at the first opportunity. Dozens of Indians, mostly students, who had earlier defied the government’s advisories to evacuate from Iran, were terrified after living through the conflict and decided to leave.
The Indian embassy coordinated the convoys along the road that took about nine hours from Tehran to Astara. While they did not face too many stops along the way, a number of intimidating checkpoints manned by the paramilitary Basij militia, slowed them down. As they neared Astara, however, another problem emerged.
“The Azeri government has been more [strict] with visas and only allowed eight to 10 persons to cross in one day… It took several days for all the family members to get across to Baku,” said a source who was aware of the travellers’ ordeal. Iranian officials helped with exit permits at the border, the source added.
After a freeze in ties over tensions following the India-Pakistan conflict in 2025, New Delhi and Baku restored regular diplomatic contact earlier this month as External Affairs Ministry Secretary Sibi George travelled to Baku for Foreign Office consultations.
Meanwhile, those heading towards Jolfa on the Armenian border took about 18 hours until they reached the land boundary crossover point, and from there, took another nine hours to Yerevan.
For the family members returning to Delhi, the biggest concern is for those they have left behind. Ministry officials say the embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Bandar Abbas will remain open and function as normal. However, the government has decided to designate the missions as ‘non-family’ postings for now, indicating that even if the U.S. and Iran reach a more permanent ceasefire after talks expected to restart this week, it may not be possible for them to return in the near future.
Diplomats’ families and students fleeing Iran return to India
Amidst tenuous ceasefire between Iran and U.S., groups undertake gruelling journeys to cross over into Azerbaijan and Armenia
Braving the conflict, a gruelling drive and long waits at the border, a batch of Indians returned from Iran over the weekend, including all family members of Indian diplomats based there, using the pause in hostilities to make their way back.
The return journey of the groups – which came over the Azerbaijan border and flew back from Baku, and over the border to Armenia – was coordinated by the Indian embassy in Tehran liaising with the Iranian government during the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire announced on April 8, officials told The Hindu.
Iran-Israel war LIVE updates
More than 2,400 Indians have been assisted to leave Iran since the start of the war, including medical students, fishermen, workers, seafarers, a few business travelers, and about 150 religious seminary students, with the embassy organising travel and living arrangements.
Among the latest batch, 34 family members of Indian diplomats and teachers at the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Tehran, including 16 children, travelled through the Iran-Azerbaijan border at Astara. The route involved a nine-hour drive and then a wait of some days at the border. A few others, including the family members of those posted at the Indian consulate in Bandar Abbas, took the longer route of about 30 hours by road to the Armenian border and then to the capital Yerevan.
While the families of diplomats and Indian staff had stayed through the worst of the conflict and bombardment by U.S.-Israel across Iran from February 28, with most of them living inside the embassy itself, the government decided to use the ceasefire period to bring them back.
The war saw many areas in the capital Tehran flattened, and although the Indian embassy and its surrounding areas were not targeted by U.S.-Israel strikes, powerful explosions could be heard consistently, an official said. In addition, regular food supplies became a worry. Finally, concerns escalated as the U.S.-set deadline for Iran to comply with its demands drew to a close, and U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning that a “civilization will die”, a statement that was condemned around the world, including by the UN Chief Antonio Guterres.
Amidst the tenuous ceasefire that followed, the government decided to pull out all remaining Embassy staff members at the first opportunity. Dozens of Indians, mostly students, who had earlier defied the government’s advisories to evacuate from Iran, were terrified after living through the conflict and decided to leave.
The Indian embassy coordinated the convoys along the road that took about nine hours from Tehran to Astara. While they did not face too many stops along the way, a number of intimidating checkpoints manned by the paramilitary Basij militia, slowed them down. As they neared Astara, however, another problem emerged.
“The Azeri government has been more [strict] with visas and only allowed eight to 10 persons to cross in one day… It took several days for all the family members to get across to Baku,” said a source who was aware of the travellers’ ordeal. Iranian officials helped with exit permits at the border, the source added.
After a freeze in ties over tensions following the India-Pakistan conflict in 2025, New Delhi and Baku restored regular diplomatic contact earlier this month as External Affairs Ministry Secretary Sibi George travelled to Baku for Foreign Office consultations.
Meanwhile, those heading towards Jolfa on the Armenian border took about 18 hours until they reached the land boundary crossover point, and from there, took another nine hours to Yerevan.
For the family members returning to Delhi, the biggest concern is for those they have left behind. Ministry officials say the embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Bandar Abbas will remain open and function as normal. However, the government has decided to designate the missions as ‘non-family’ postings for now, indicating that even if the U.S. and Iran reach a more permanent ceasefire after talks expected to restart this week, it may not be possible for them to return in the near future.
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