Tehran, Updated At: 01:39 PM Mar 02, 2026 IST
ANI
In a reprieve for students, including several from India, Tehran has announced that foreign nationals studying in Iranian educational institutes will be allowed to exit through land borders, Tasnim News reported. The country’s science ministry said students will also be permitted to appear for term-end examinations and defend doctoral theses at later dates to be announced.
The measures come as universities and public institutions remain temporarily shut and Iran’s airspace is closed to international flights. Indian authorities have repeatedly advised students to leave Iran, but the closed airspace and logistical hurdles have complicated evacuation efforts. Students across Tehran, Urmia and other regions report limited access to essential services, and many institutions have suspended operations for the next 15 days.
Tasnim News posted that there is a “possibility of foreign students exiting through land borders without requiring permission,” quoting the Head of the Student Affairs Organization of the Ministry of Science: all universities are obligated to cooperate with foreign students’ exit and to announce alternative times for holding end-of-term exams or thesis defences.
Students described dire conditions. Ayesha, from Srinagar, told ANI they are cut off from the internet and hear bomb sounds frequently. She said universities initially warned that leaving would mean failing, and that “universities, hospitals, and everything is closed for 15 days right now.” She added the embassy is in contact but constrained by the banned airspace.
Musarraf, in Urmia, described a tense environment and reported seeing missile activity. He said the university is now cooperating and will help arrange buses to reach the borders with Armenia or Azerbaijan, while the embassy provides further guidance.
The Indian embassy remains in contact with students, offering guidance on evacuation routes to neighbouring countries. However, officials acknowledge that international airspace restrictions and ongoing missile attacks make immediate evacuation complex. Students and families continue to express concern over safety, communication blackouts and delayed assistance, highlighting the urgency of coordinated international efforts to secure their safe return amid the unfolding crisis.
