India closely monitoring all developments related to Strait of Hormuz: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that India is closely monitoring all developments related to the Strait of Hormuz, adding that so far, around 1,200 Indian nationals, including 845 students, have been assisted in exiting Iran through land borders into Armenia and Azerbaijan amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

“Of these, 996 have crossed into Armenia and 204 into Azerbaijan,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital on the situation arising out of the conflict in West Asia.

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The MEA further informed that around 6,24,000 passengers have returned to India from West Asia since February 28 amid ongoing regional tensions.

Jaiswal stated that the Government of India has been closely monitoring the situation of Indian nationals in Iran and has been facilitating their safe movement through its embassy.

Addressing the briefing, Additional Secretary (Gulf), MEA, Aseem R Mahajan, said that the Government of India is closely monitoring the situation in the Gulf and West Asia, with the safety and welfare of Indian nationals as the top priority. “A dedicated control room is operational, while missions and consulates are running round the clock helplines, engaging with community groups and issuing regular advisories in coordination with states and Union Territories,” he added.

Mahajan mentioned that Missions are working with local authorities to resolve issues related to visas, consular services and transit support, while providing necessary assistance to nationals.

Special focus is on students, with efforts to ensure their academic schedules remain unaffected through coordination with schools, education boards and the National Testing Agency for exams like JEE and NEET, he said.

“An Indian national was injured in an attack in Umm Al Quwain in the UAE and is currently under treatment, with the Consulate extending all necessary assistance,” the MEA said.

Later, addressing his weekly media briefing in the national capital, the MEA spokesperson further informed that “Several of our Indian nationals, 204, to be precise, have been able to leave Iran for Azerbaijan through the land border, and from there, they will be coming back home. Several of them have returned, and others will be returning in the course of the next few days.”

“We are thankful to the government of Azerbaijan for the support that they render for the exit of Indian nationals from Iran through the land border,” he said.

Jaiswal stated that in the Gulf region, specifically the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, approximately 10 million Indian citizens reside.

“All of them are safe. Our embassies in all these countries remain in constant contact with them,” he said.

Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, the MEA spokesperson said a total of eight Indian nationals have lost their lives.

“Eight Indian citizens have been casualties in this conflict so far, and one remains reported as missing,” he said.

“Here at the Ministry of External Affairs, in coordination with our Ministry of Shipping and all our Indian embassies in the region, we are dedicated to safeguarding the security and interests of our citizens. We are closely monitoring all developments and activities related to the Gulf region, this ongoing conflict, and the Strait of Hormuz,” Jaiswal said.