As the Israel-Iran conflict continues into its ninth day, India has not only intensified efforts to bring home its own citizens from Iran but is now also stepping in to assist nationals from neighboring countries. The Indian Embassy in Iran announced that, at the request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, its ongoing evacuation mission ‘Operation Sindhu’ will also cover citizens from the two South Asian nations.
“On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka,” the embassy posted on X. The Embassy urged Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals to immediately reach out via its official Telegram channel or through emergency helpline numbers: +989010144557, +989128109115, and +989128109109.
The citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka may urgently reach out to the Embassy, either on the Telegram channel or over the emergency contact numbers.
+989010144557; +989128109115; +989128109109— India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) June 21, 2025
Operation Sindhu was launched by the Indian government in response to the escalating hostilities between Tehran and Tel Aviv, which have left hundreds dead and disrupted civilian life in key regions. On Saturday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reported that a total of 517 Indian nationals had been evacuated from Iran under the operation.
Jaiswal shared that the latest batch of evacuees arrived in New Delhi on June 21 via a special flight from Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat. “Operation Sindhu continues. A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home,” he wrote on X.
#OperationSindhu continues.
A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home.
With this, so far 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned home under Operation Sindhu. pic.twitter.com/xYfpoxwJtw
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2025
The escalating conflict was triggered on June 13 when Israel launched a massive air assault targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, calling it “Operation Rising Lion.” In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched “Operation True Promise 3,” a barrage of drone and missile attacks aimed at Israeli fuel production and energy supply facilities.
