A special flight carrying 285 Indian nationals from Mashhad, Iran, touched down in the national capital late Saturday night, marking yet another milestone in India’s ongoing evacuation drive under Operation Sindhu. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita was present at the airport to receive the returnees, bringing the total number of Indian citizens repatriated from Iran to 1,713.
The fresh batch of evacuees includes individuals from across the country—states such as Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Their return is part of a broader effort by the Indian government to bring home nationals stranded amid escalating tensions in the region.
#WATCH | #OperationSindhu | Delhi | MoS Pabitra Margherita received 285 Indian nationals evacuated on a special flight from Mashhad to New Delhi on 22 June.
With this, 1,713 Indian nationals have now been brought home from Iran. pic.twitter.com/6I0cItZp1l
— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2025
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Minister Margherita confirmed that the evacuation effort is far from over. “We have scheduled three more flights from Iran over the next two to three days. We remain in constant communication with Indian nationals in Iran and Israel,” he said, underlining the government’s proactive stance.
#WATCH | #OperationSindhu | Delhi | MoS Pabitra Margherita says, “The special evacuation flight has arrived in New Delhi…carrying 285 Indian nationals from Iran… In that plane, we had 285 Indian nationals, mainly from 10 states, Bihar, Jammu Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh,… https://t.co/ikEcg4b0n4 pic.twitter.com/mTJaZXgyKs
— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2025
Margherita also provided an update on Indians who had crossed over into Jordan from Israel, stating, “162 Indian nationals have reached Jordan. We’re making arrangements to bring them back within the next couple of days.”
In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated the government’s commitment:
“India’s evacuation efforts continue under Operation Sindhu. MoS Shri Pabitra Margherita received 285 Indian nationals evacuated on a special flight from Mashhad that landed in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 22 June.”
India’s evacuation efforts continue under #OperationSindhu 🇮🇳
MoS Shri @PmargheritaBJP received 285 Indian nationals evacuated on a special flight from Mashhad that landed in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 22 June.
With this, 1,713 Indian nationals have now been brought home from… pic.twitter.com/BepZEiIT5w
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 22, 2025
Operation Sindhu was launched in response to growing concerns over the safety of Indian citizens in conflict-hit regions. So far, over 800 Indians—including more than 300 students—have been flown back on three chartered flights: two from Mashhad and one from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
As India steps up efforts to ensure the safety of its diaspora in volatile zones, the swift coordination between diplomatic missions, local authorities, and the Ministry of External Affairs continues to play a critical role. With more flights on the horizon, the focus remains sharply on bringing every Indian home, safely and swiftly.
