New Delhi, January 18, 2026: The first group of Indian nationals stranded in Iran amid weeks of nationwide protests returned to Delhi on Saturday, bringing with them accounts of isolation, anxiety, and the challenges of navigating a country cut off from the world. The arrivals, which included students, pilgrims, and professionals, marked the beginning of India’s efforts to bring home citizens caught in the unrest, which has reportedly claimed more than 2,500 lives and affected communication and transport across the country. Families gathered at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 3 from Friday night to welcome their relatives, who had endured days of uncertainty amid government-imposed restrictions and escalating civil unrest.

The returning students described a harrowing experience shaped not by direct exposure to violence but by the constant stream of secondhand reports, viral videos, and the anxiety of being isolated from loved ones. Zuik, a 22-year-old fourth-year MBBS student at Tehran University, recounted how university officials imposed restrictions, citing “security measures” to maintain law and order, and instructed students to remain indoors, especially after dark. “But my family started panicking when they saw videos of protests surfacing on the internet, and the subsequent internet shutdown and airspace ban fuelled their fear even more,” Zuik said, reflecting the stress experienced by students reliant on digital communication to stay in touch with their families.

Another student, Shazid, highlighted the additional strain caused by Iran cutting off both internet and international phone calls for more than a week. “Once we were informed about the travel arrangements, there was a sense of relief. Reaching home and seeing our families waiting for us is something we truly needed,” he told PTI, emphasizing the psychological toll of isolation.

For many working professionals, the situation was similarly tense. Mohd Dilshad, 25, a BTech graduate from Hyderabad working on a pharmaceutical equipment installation in Karaj, approximately 25 kilometers from Tehran, said he and his colleagues were moved by hotel management to an official guesthouse due to safety concerns. Informal curfews and restricted working hours meant that they had to stay indoors before evening, when protests typically escalated. “We had food and everything on time there, but our heart was full of fear,” Dilshad said. Reduced staff strength, as locals refrained from reporting to work, added to the sense of isolation and uncertainty.

Flight disruptions further exacerbated the stress. Dilshad and his colleagues had initially booked return tickets for January 9, but due to the internet shutdown and communication breakdown, their flight schedules were altered, forcing them to return to their temporary accommodations until arrangements could be finalized. He noted that many Indian workers in Iran remain on multi-year contracts, limiting their ability to leave the country quickly. “We went there for a project which was completed in just a few weeks so we could return,” he said, highlighting the logistical challenges faced by temporary professionals amid the crisis.

Pilgrims faced similar difficulties navigating the unrest and disrupted communications. Hasnain, 55, from Mau district in Uttar Pradesh, described learning about the protests and the volatile situation through locals, noting concerns over inflation, unemployment, and political instability. “Few days later, we were told by locals that Iran and the US are likely to have a war and then amidst these talks, the internet was shut down. I along with my wife had gone for pilgrimage, and our three daughters were at home. We completely lost touch with them. With the help of locals, we managed to make some international calls and inform them that we are safe,” he said.

Children traveling with their families were particularly affected by the confusion and anxiety. Eight-year-old Mohadeesa Fatima from Magam tehsil in Kashmir, who had travelled with her family for pilgrimage, recalled the disorientation of the experience. The family left Kashmir on December 22 and began their pilgrimage in Iraq, visiting holy sites including Karbala, Najaf, Mashhad, and Qom before reaching Tehran. “As soon as we had arrived, we heard how people from other countries, including mine, are desperate to leave,” she said, reflecting the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that permeated the experiences of foreign nationals in Iran. The child’s recollection was marked by exhaustion, with two sleepless nights preceding their flight home leaving only fragmented memories of events.

According to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, approximately 9,000 Indian nationals currently reside in Iran, most of them students, in addition to sailors, pilgrims, and professionals involved in business and project work. The MEA has been actively coordinating with Indian missions in Iran to facilitate the safe return of citizens, particularly as communications and transport networks remain unreliable amid the protests.

The protests, which began in late December in Tehran, were initially sparked by economic grievances following the Iranian rial’s dramatic depreciation but have since spread nationwide, encompassing all 31 provinces. While demonstrations started as a response to rising inflation and unemployment, they quickly evolved into broader demands for political change, with sporadic clashes between protesters and security forces reported in multiple cities.

Accurate information from Iran has been difficult to obtain due to widespread restrictions on communication. The internet shutdown, along with restrictions on international calls and airspace closures, has made it challenging to corroborate reports, though unofficial estimates suggest that the death toll may have reached several thousand. For the Indians stranded in the country, the lack of reliable news and disrupted communications heightened anxiety, leaving many reliant on local reports, viral videos, and word-of-mouth accounts for information.

The first batch of returnees represents a significant step in India’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of its citizens. Students like Zuik and Shazid emphasized that the relief of returning home was compounded by the emotional weight of weeks spent in a climate of fear and uncertainty. Professionals such as Dilshad and pilgrims like Hasnain recounted how routine schedules, safety precautions, and travel disruptions amplified the stress of living through the protests. For children like Mohadeesa, the experience was especially disorienting, underscoring the vulnerability of young travelers in such volatile situations.

The experiences of the returnees highlight the multifaceted impact of the Iranian unrest on Indian citizens abroad: from psychological stress caused by isolation, to disrupted travel plans, to uncertain safety in unfamiliar environments. While most returnees reported not witnessing violence firsthand, the combination of secondhand accounts, viral media, and restricted communication contributed to a pervasive sense of fear.

As India continues its efforts to bring back citizens stranded in Iran, the government is maintaining close coordination with local authorities and Indian missions to ensure safe and orderly evacuation. The first group of returnees serves as a reminder of the human dimension of international crises and the importance of proactive consular support in safeguarding citizens amid political unrest.