Tehran: As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, the Indian government has advised all Indian nationals in Iran, including students, to leave the country at the earliest. The advisory has triggered anxiety among hundreds of Indian medical students, who now find themselves torn between safety concerns and the risk of losing an academic year.
According to estimates, around 1,000 to 1,500 Indian students are currently enrolled at universities across Iran, many of them medical students from Jammu and Kashmir. For a significant number, crucial examinations scheduled for March 5 have made an immediate return difficult.
At the center of the issue are the Olum-e-Paye (basic sciences) examination and the pre-internship test — mandatory assessments in Iran’s medical education system. These exams determine whether students can transition from classroom instruction to clinical training in hospitals. Since the tests are conducted only twice a year, missing them could delay graduation by up to six months.
Students Seek Clarity
“We want to return home. Our families are worried,” Bilal Bhat, a medical student in Iran, told ANI. “But our exams are in March, and there is no confirmation about postponement. If we miss them, it will affect our academic year.”
#WATCH | Tehran, Iran: On the situation in Iran, Indian student Bilal Bhat says, "We have our exams on 5th March and 28th March. According to the advisory of the Indian embassy in Tehran, they have told us to leave the country immediately, but we cannot, as this is the most… pic.twitter.com/bp2WbPwjW8
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2026
Another student, Musafid, said many are closely monitoring developments. “Flights are still operating, and daily life is normal, but we don’t know what may happen next. Our only concern is safety and our studies,” he said.
#WATCH | Tehran, Iran: On the situation in Iran, an Indian student, Musaid, says, "Internally the situation is fine in Iran, but externally the situation is very bad. They are saying that there will be a war and many things will go wrong in the coming days. But we have some exams… pic.twitter.com/KgXwCg2q6q
— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2026
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the All India Medical Students Association has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention.
Mohammad Momin Khan, the unit’s president, said students are urging diplomatic efforts to ensure their safety without jeopardizing their education. He added that some students have already returned to India and may not be able to travel back if the exams proceed as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a diplomatic agreement with the United States is “within reach” ahead of talks in Geneva. The negotiations come amid heightened military activity in the region and warnings from Washington of possible action if discussions fail.
For now, Indian students in Iran remain in a difficult position, balancing academic ambitions against growing uncertainty as their families await clarity.
