Iran Unrest 2026: India to airlift its citizens from Iran as US Navy's USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group heads towards Middle East
Iran Unrest 2026: Amidst the ongoing violent anti-government protests in Iran, the Indian government has made preparations to airlift its citizens from the country. The first flight will depart from Tehran to New Delhi tomorrow on January 16.
Approximately 10,000 Indians reside in Iran. Of these, 2,500-3,000 are students who went there to pursue medical studies.
The first batch includes some students from Golestan University, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, and Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said in a statement that all students have been registered. The Indian Embassy has collected their personal details and passports. The first batch has been instructed to be ready by 8 AM.
US preparing to increase its military presence around Iran
Meanwhile, amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iran, the US is preparing to increase its military presence around Iran. The US Navy's USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has departed from the South China Sea and is heading towards the Middle East.
This decision was made just one hour after Iranian airspace was closed. According to reports, the strike group was deployed in the South China Sea to monitor Chinese activities, but its movement has now been observed.
It could take about a week for it to reach the Middle East. However, this has not yet been confirmed by US officials. The US had similarly increased its deployment before launching an attack in Venezuela.