New Delhi : The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Saturday that a chartered flight carrying stranded Iranian nationals departed from Kochi last night. The group included tourists and diplomatic staff who had been unable to leave India following recent escalations in West Asia.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing, stated that Iranian authorities arranged the repatriation for their citizens. The development follows the arrival of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan, which had been docked at the Kochi port since March 4 due to technical issues.
While a significant portion of the ship’s crew was included in the repatriation, official statements indicate that a skeleton staff remains in Kochi to maintain the vessel. The flight also reportedly transported the remains of sailors recovered from the IRIS Dena, an Iranian warship sunk earlier this month off the coast of Sri Lanka.
Government sources said India facilitated the docking and subsequent departure on humanitarian grounds. The move coincides with reports of high-level diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Tehran aimed at ensuring the safety of Indian maritime interests in the region. Security at the Kochi port remains heightened as the remaining crew awaits further instructions from Iranian naval authorities.
