New Delhi, June 16: With the escalating tensions in the Middle East following the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement on Monday said that India is closely monitoring the security situation to ensure the safety and welfare of its nationals in both countries.

In a statement released on social media platform X, the MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the Indian Embassy in Tehran is “continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety.”

The statement also added that “in some cases, students are being relocated with the Embassy’s facilitation to safer places within Iran,” adding that “other feasible options are also under examination”.

The Embassy is also in contact with community leaders across Iran regarding the welfare and safety of Indian citizens, the MEA said.

The statement by the MEA comes hours after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar regarding students from the Union Territory stuck in Iran.

More than 1,500 Indian students, most of them from Jammu and Kashmir, are stranded in Iran.

The parents have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and S. Jaishankar to intervene and facilitate the safe return of the Indian students.

The majority of the students stranded in Tehran, Shiraz, and Qom cities of Iran are pursuing professional courses, primarily MBBS.

Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Iran asked all Indian nationals and Persons of Indian Origin to remain vigilant, and also provided a Google form on its X account, asking the Indian citizens to fill it out to provide their details.

“Please remember, it is important not to panic, exercise due caution and maintain contact with the Embassy of India in Tehran,” it said.

It also provided a Telegram Link and asked the Indian citizens to join it to receive updates on the situation from the mission.

Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” with a surprise attack on Friday morning that wiped out the top echelon of Iran’s military command and damaged its nuclear sites.

Iran retaliated with air strikes, with both countries launching hundreds of missiles at each other in the last three days.

While Israel has said the campaign will continue to escalate in the coming days, Iran has vowed to “open the gates of hell” in retaliation.

Additionally, several helpline numbers have been issued by Indian missions in both Iran and Israel.

The Indian Embassy in Israel said it is in constant touch with local authorities and monitoring developments closely.

The MEA is expected to continue issuing advisories as the situation unfolds.

In the meantime, Indian nationals in the region have been urged to remain alert, follow official guidance, and limit outdoor movement.

The conflict between Israel and Iran has not only raised global diplomatic concerns but also created anxiety among thousands of foreign nationals, including Indians, living and working in Iran.

New Delhi, June 14: Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Air India and IndiGo, two of India’s leading airlines, have issued public advisories to alert passengers about flight delays and reroutes due to the closure of Iranian airspace. Air India on Saturday said that it has rerouted several flights due to airspace closures. The airline announced that some of its flights are now operating on longer, alternative routes to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

Air India, the national carrier, shared an official update on social media platform X, stating: “Due to the emerging situation in Iran and parts of the Middle East, the subsequent closure of airspace, and in view of the safety of our passengers, some of our flights are operating on alternative extended routes. We are doing our best to minimise any inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace closure. We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority.”

The advisory comes as airspace over Iran and nearby regions remains closed, following a series of regional escalations.

The situation has significantly impacted several international air routes that usually traverse Iranian skies, particularly those operating between India and Europe, or India and North America.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, also issued a statement through X warning passengers of potential disruptions.

“Airspace over Iran and surrounding areas continues to be unavailable. Certain flight paths may need adjustments, leading to extended travel durations or delays,” the airline said in its advisory.

IndiGo has advised all passengers to check their flight status via its website or mobile application before heading to the airport to avoid last-minute surprises. The airline assured that its customer service teams are actively assisting travellers affected by these delays.

Both airlines are working to reroute affected flights via alternative air corridors, which may result in longer flying times. As a result, several services to and from Europe, the Gulf, and Central Asia are experiencing delays ranging from 30 minutes to several hours.

Passengers have been urged to stay updated on real-time flight schedules and remain in contact with the respective airline helplines.

The current geopolitical uncertainty follows Iran’s response to recent Israeli airstrikes, which triggered broader concerns over regional security and airspace safety. Aviation authorities in multiple countries have already issued NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), advising airlines to avoid the region until further notice.

While airlines assure that passenger safety remains their utmost priority, industry experts say the airspace disruption could continue for several days or even weeks, depending on how the situation evolves diplomatically.

For now, travelers flying to the West or through the Middle East are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time for transit, and remain patient as airlines navigate the complex airspace restrictions.

Washington, June 14: US President Donald Trump has instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to halt raids and arrests in the agricultural industry, hotels and restaurants, by significantly shifting the direction on mass deportation campaign, according to a media report.

According to The New York Times report, the move was made as the mass deportation campaign hurt industries and constituencies that President Trump doesn’t want to lose, which is the central focus of his Presidency.

The report suggested that Tatum King, a senior ICE official, had sent an email on Thursday to regional leaders of the ICE department issuing the directive.

“Effective today, please hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants, and operating hotels,” read the message.

However, the email mentioned continuing investigations which involve “human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling into these industries.”

Additionally, it directed the agents not to take anyone into the custody of “noncriminal collaterals,” referring to people who are undocumented but have no criminal records.

The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed the recent developments.

“We will follow the President’s direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America’s streets,” Tricia McLaughlin, a department spokeswoman, said in a statement.

The directive came after agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal law enforcement agencies raided several locations in southern California, which sparked mass protests.

Earlier this week, a protest against immigration raids in Santa Ana, 50 km east of downtown Los Angeles, resulted in several injuries and arrests after demonstrators clashed with federal authorities and local police.

The protest was triggered by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids during the day across Santa Ana, the capital of Orange County, with a population of over 300,000.

Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told the Orange County Register newspaper that the immigration officials appeared to have targeted day labourers waiting for work.

At least 200 protesters, waving flags and carrying signs, gathered outside a federal building in downtown Santa Ana, which houses ICE offices and other federal department offices, to protest the raids that occurred.

Later, the situation escalated and took a chaotic turn after law enforcement reportedly shot at the crowd.

California sued the Trump administration after the President ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the state’s permission in response to the protests.

Nearly 400 people in immigration protests have been arrested or detained by the Los Angeles Police Department since Saturday, media reports said.

The arrested and detained include 330 undocumented migrants and 157 people arrested for assault and obstruction, quoting the media News.

On the first night of curfew starting Tuesday night in the US second largest city, there were 203 arrests for failure to disperse and 17 arrests for curfew violation, said the Los Angeles Police Department in a press release.