Owaisi, Omar call for urgent evacuation plan of Indian students amid Iran protests

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi urges the Indian government to prioritize the safety of Indian students stranded in Iran amidst ongoing unrest.

Published on: Jan 15, 2026, 14:21:49 IST

By HT News Desk

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AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister omar Abdullah have called on Centre to urgently help Indian students who are stuck in Iran amid the ongoing unrest in the country. Owaisi said the safety of these students should be treated as a top priority.

With internet outages complicating the situation, Owaisi demanded swift government action and an evacuation plan to bring Indian nationals home from Iran. (PTI)

Owaisi said it was a good step that External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar spoke to Iran’s foreign minister. However, he added that talking is not enough and quick action is needed on the ground to bring students back safely, ANI reported. Follow LIVE updates on Iran protests here

ALSO READ | AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi appeals to Jaishankar for evacuation of Indian student amid unrest in Iran

He shared that many worried parents have reached out to him. According to Owaisi, around 70 to 80 Indian students study at Shahid Beheshti University in Iran, including five to eight students from Hyderabad. He said there are hundreds of Indian students across Iran who are now feeling scared and helpless.

“The problem is that the internet is down in Iran. Secondly, parents cannot even purchase tickets and send them to their children. Thirdly, many students are from a poor background, and they don't have the financial wherewithal to purchase a ticket,” he said, as quoted by the agency.

ALSO READ | 'Tubelight in his head': Owaisi vs Himanta over AIMIM chief's 'hijab-clad woman as Indian PM' remark

He further claimed that the university is not returning the students’ passports, which is stopping them from leaving Iran and coming back to India. This, he said, has made the situation even more stressful.

Owaisi said parents are extremely upset and anxious because they do not know what is happening to their children. He urged the Indian government to quickly prepare a clear evacuation plan to safely bring all stranded students home.

ALSO READ | Owaisi hits out at Congress after SC denies bail for Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam

Omar dials EAM Jaishankar

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also spoke on the matter and said he has spoken to EAM Dr S Jaishankar about the rapidly changing situation in Iran, where concerns have been raised over the safety of Indian nationals. In a social media post on X, Abdullah said the minister briefed him on the current ground situation and explained the steps being planned by the ministry to respond to the developments.

“I’m grateful for his assurance that all steps will be taken to safeguard the interests & lives of students & other people from J&K who are in Iran now,” he wrote.

Iran protests escalate, over 3,400 killed

The protests in Iran erupted in December 2025 in Iran after the rial, the national currency, hit record lows and brought about a worsening a cost-of-living crisis. The protests have now snowballed into an nationwide uprising, brining the country under US' scanner as President Donald Trump mulls a military intervention.

As per US-based human rights news agency, over 3,400 have reportedly died in Iranian regime's crackdown on the protesters.

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HT News Desk
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