India Issues Urgent Travel Advisory Amid Iran-Israel Conflict, Urging Citizens to Avoid Both Countries
The recent attack by Iran on Israel, including reports of sirens and explosions echoing across major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, India has promptly issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to refrain from traveling to both Iran and Israel. The heightened tensions have prompted concerns for the safety and security of travelers in the region.
India Ministry of External Affairs issues a Travel Advisory Amid Escalating Iran-Israel Tensions
Anticipating escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, India proactively issued a travel advisory on Friday, cautioning its citizens against traveling to both countries. The decision came in anticipation of potential hostilities, highlighting concerns for the safety of travelers amidst the volatile situation in the region In light of the current regional circumstances, the Ministry of External Affairs advises all Indian nationals against traveling to Iran or Israel until further notice.
Those presently residing in either country are urged to contact the nearest Indian embassies for registration and exercise utmost caution regarding their safety, minimizing movements to essential requirements. The advisory was issued shortly after Tehran accused Israel of conducting an airstrike in Syria, resulting in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military commanders. This incident has contributed to the gradual escalation of tensions between the two nations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs had previously expressed concern regarding the escalating situation. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the ministry, highlighted India’s distress over the attack on Iranian diplomatic facilities in Syria on April 1, 2024. He urged all parties involved to refrain from actions that could exacerbate tensions and emphasized the importance of adhering to international principles and norms of law.
Currently, approximately 18,000 Indian nationals reside in Israel, comprising a significant portion of caregivers and IT professionals. Meanwhile, Iran hosts around 4,000 Indian nationals, including individuals engaged in small-scale trading and academia. Apart from India, both France and the United States have also issued comparable travel advisories to their citizens in response to the escalating conflict.
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