Iran Eases Airspace Restrictions for Three Indian Evacuation Flights Amid Conflict

 June 20, 2025 – In a significant diplomatic gesture amidst its escalating conflict with Israel, Iran today, Friday, June 20th, eased its stringent airspace restrictions to facilitate the evacuation of Indian nationals. This special allowance will enable three Indian charter flights to bring home approximately 1,000 citizens from the conflict-hit nation.

The decision comes as the direct military conflict between Iran and Israel entered its eighth day, leading to widespread airspace closures across the Middle East. Most international flights remain barred from Iranian airspace due to ongoing missile and drone exchanges.

According to Mohammad Javad Hosseini, the deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy in New Delhi, Iran's airspace is currently closed, "but because of this issue, we are making arrangements to open it for the safe passage of [Indian nationals]."

Under "Operation Sindhu," India's emergency evacuation program, approximately 1,000 Indian nationals, primarily students and pilgrims, who had been moved to safer locations within Iran (such as Mashhad from Tehran), are expected to return to India over the next two days.

• The first flight is scheduled to land in New Delhi late tonight, Friday, June 20th.
• Two more flights are expected to arrive by Saturday afternoon, June 21st.

These special flights, arranged by India, will be operated on Iranian aircraft, highlighting the collaborative effort in the evacuation process. Iranian officials have assured India that all its citizens in Iran are safe and have indicated that more flights could be arranged if needed.

This latest development follows an earlier evacuation effort where 110 Indian students, primarily from Jammu and Kashmir, were moved from northern Iran via a land border crossing to Armenia. They then boarded a special flight from Yerevan and arrived in New Delhi in the early hours of Thursday, June 19th.

India had launched Operation Sindhu earlier this week to evacuate its nationals from both Iran and Israel in view of the escalating hostilities. While India has not yet issued a general advisory asking all citizens to leave either country, it has urged them to remain vigilant, restrict movements, and for those in Iran, to move out of Tehran. The Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated that the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad are of the highest priority and that evacuation efforts will continue as long as necessary.