In the midst of conflicts and continuing air strikes by Israel, the Iranian government said on Friday (June 20, 2025) that it agreed to open its otherwise closed air space to facilitate leased flights transferring about 1,000 Indian nationals back to India.
Returning Indians, including students, experts and tourists, will travel in three or more years of the Iranian airline and organized by the Indian Embassy in Tehran. They will fly from Mashaad near the border of Iranian-Sbekistan to Delhi, while the first flight will arrive on Friday evening and others on Saturday and Sunday as needed, said the Iranian ambassador to a press conference in Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs (Mea) said that another leased flight will bring Indians who have already moved to Turkmenistan and will fly from Ashgabat on Friday.
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“The airspace is closed (conflict with Israel) because of this problem, but we are concluding measures to open it for a safe passage of the Indians, and do everything we can to send Indian nationals who want to leave safely,” said Mohammad Javed Hossaini. He added that most of the 10,000 Indians in Iran have not been damaged by Israeli attacks and drones in the last week, except for several who were injured during a strike hit by a college hostel in Tehran.
“Condemn aggression”
Mr. Hossaini urged India to join the international community, especially the countries of the global south to push Israel to stop his air bombing that entered on Friday eighth day. He did not explain the “condemnation” of the Israeli government for her actions would “motivate” other countries to perform unilateral actions, warned.
“We believe that every country, including India, should condemn these aggression, not because of Iran or because of this conflict, but because there are other countries that in their minds (want to) attack a neighbor before unfounded accusations.
Iranian “expectations are more”
Meanwhile, Mea has only issued one conflict statement, although it commented on the evacuation plans for Indians from Iran and Israel. In her statement on June 14, she expressed “deep concerns” about the strikes, called for “dialogue and diplomacy” to discuss the de-acidity of the conflict, and stated that monitoring the situation, in particular “reports regarding nuclear places”. The statement did not criticize any party.
India has separated from the statement of Russia and China led by the organization for cooperation in Shanghai (SCO), which includes Iran, who criticized Israel for his “aggression”. In its statement, Mea said India was not part of the SCO meeting. Asked, Mr. Hosseini denied that Iran was “disappointed” by Indian move. “We understand the position of India, but of course our expectations are more,” he said.
Wider impact
In response to the question of the Hindu, Mr. Hosseini did not rule out the possibility that Iran closed Hormuz as a pressure tactic if the conflict continues. Such a step would disrupt travel and trade throughout the region. He expressed hope that negotiations that are planned between Iran and European countries of European countries would help to alleviate the situation. Regarding the impact of the conflict on the Indian port project in Chabahar, the envoy said it was the whole region, not just the project.
“If the situation escalates, it will affect many things-for the oil, consignments, commodities passing through these channels, they will all affect,” he said, noting that the prolonged war Israel-Iran would affect the region and the world.
Retaliation
Last week, Israeli jets bombed Iranian nuclear devices in Natanz, Isfahan, Fordow and Arak Heavy Facility, which was bombarded on Thursday evening. In retaliation for attacks, Tehran sent waves of missiles that pierced the Israeli “iron dome” and focused on military places in Tel Aviv and across the country.
Mr. Hosseini denied the accusation of Israel that Iranian forces had intentionally hit the Be’er Sheva hospital and said the hospital had some impact on the Iranian strike on a military technology facility in the area.
The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv is working on the plan to evacuate Indians who want to leave Israel, through land routes to Jordan and Egypt, Mea said on Thursday.
Published – June 20, 2025 9:18
