Iran Allows Foreign Students, Including Indians, to Leave Amid Regional Tensions

Kathmandu. Amid rising tensions in the West Asian region, Tehran has announced that it will allow foreign nationals studying in the country's educational institutions to exit the country, providing relief to students stranded in Iran, Tasnim News reported.

Furthermore, the students will be allowed to attend their final examinations later and their theses defense dates will be announced later, Tasnim News quoted the country's Ministry of Education as saying.

Currently, universities and public institutions in Iran are temporarily closed, and international flights have been suspended.

Indian officials have repeatedly issued notices urging their students to leave Iran, but evacuation efforts have been complicated due to the closure of the airspace. Students in Tehran, Urmia, and other regions are facing limited access to essential services, including hospitals and educational institutions, which have suspended operations for the next 15 days.

Tasnim News reported that Iran has permitted foreign students to leave, with the ministry stating that all universities will provide necessary assistance to foreign students wishing to exit the country and will announce an alternative time for conducting the final term examinations.

The Indian Embassy has reportedly been in constant contact with the students, guiding them on evacuation routes through neighboring countries such as Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, officials acknowledge that immediate evacuation remains a complex challenge due to international airspace restrictions and continuous missile attacks.

Students and families have expressed concerns over security, communication delays, and assistance, emphasizing the need for coordinated international efforts to ensure their safe return amidst the crisis.