Iran war: 1.2k desi medical students stranded in Iran

Around 1,200 Indian students remain in Iran after US and Israeli strikes began on Saturday, the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association claimed, urging the govt to be prepared with an evacuation plan if situation worsens.

Faizan Nabi, 22, Iran coordinator of J&KSA and a third-semester MBBS student at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in southwestern Iran, said nearly half of the Indian students had returned home after the Indian embassy in Tehran issued an advisory on Feb 23 asking nationals to leave by available means.




However, a significant number chose to remain as they were scheduled to appear for two exams conducted by Iran’s ministry of health and medical education on March 5 — a comprehensive general science test and another linked to internship eligibility under the MBBS curriculum.

“Many believed they would complete the exams and then leave. They did not anticipate a sudden escalation,” Nabi said. Most of the Indian nationals currently in Iran are medical students enrolled across varsities in different provinces, with a majority hailing from J&K, along with students from Kerala, UP and other states.

On Saturday, Indian embassy in Iran issued a fresh advisory on its X handle urging all Indian nationals in that country to exercise utmost caution.

“Avoid unnecessary movements and remain indoors. Indians may continue to monitor news, maintain situational awareness and await further guidance from the embassy of India. The emergency contact details of the embassy are: +989128109115, +989128109109, +989932179359,” read the advisory.

Nabi added that internet and mobile connectivity were disrupted in parts of Iran from Saturday morning, limiting real-time communication. “Parents in India are anxious and contacting us for updates. After considerable effort, we managed to share details of the stranded students with officials at the Indian embassy in Tehran through SMS. Govt has cooperated with us earlier, and we hope preparations are made in case evacuation becomes necessary,” he said.

An MBBS student from Isfahan, who returned to India via Baku five days ago and requested anonymity, said the atmosphere in Tehran had appeared subdued in the days leading up to the strikes. “There were noticeably fewer people outside in the evenings. It felt like something was anticipated,” he said, adding that students who stayed back did so largely because of academic commitments.

Meanwhile, Iranian nationals residing in India expressed sharply divided and emotionally charged reactions to the developments. Mohammed, who agreed to be identified by his first name and has lived in Delhi for over a decade, described the moment as decisive. “After the deaths of thousands of people, including women and children, at the hands of regime forces during recent mass protests, we hope the regime is finally toppled. People of Iran have suffered a lot. We hope to celebrate Nowruz on Mar 20 in a free Iran,” he said.