New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that so far, 517 Indian nationals have returned to India from Iran under Operation Sindoor.

Jaiswal stated that a special flight from Turkmenistan’s Ashgabat arrived in New Delhi on June 21. The Indian government has launched Operation Sindoor to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran, given the deteriorating situation as a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

In a post on X, Jaiswal stated, “Operation Sindoor continues. A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home. With this, so far 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned home under Operation Sindoor.”

A fresh batch of Indian nationals evacuated from Iran landed safely in Delhi on Saturday under Operation Sindoor, as part of the Government of India’s ongoing efforts to bring back its citizens from conflict-hit regions.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran coordinated the safe movement of students, while the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) ensured their safe return. An Indian national who was evacuated from Iran, Zaffar Abbas Naqvi, recounted how he and his family stayed indoors initially after hearing about the attack on Iran. They later moved to Mashhad, which also came under attack, prompting them to contact the Indian government.

Naqvi praised the swift action taken by the government and thanked Prime Minister Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath for their support.

“Everything was going fine, but one day we heard that Iran had been attacked. We stayed indoors for some time. We then moved to Mashhad. Soon Mashhad came under attack. We then contacted the Indian government. The action was so swift that we cannot express our gratitude in words. I want to thank Modi ji and Yogi ji who made all the arrangements for us…,” said Naqvi.

Kulsum, an Indian national evacuated from Iran, expressed relief at being back home safely, saying the situation in Iran was worrisome and the government’s help was invaluable.

Speaking to media, Kulsum said, “The situation in Iran is not good. We were very worried. The government helped us a lot and brought us back home safely.”

Another Indian national who was evacuated from Mashhad, Mohammad Ali Qazim, expressed gratitude towards the Indian government for their help in crossing the border and returning home safely. He mentioned that the situation in Iran, especially in Tehran, was not good.

“I am coming from Mashhad. It feels very good to return home… We had gone on a religious journey. The situation there is not good, especially in Tehran… Indian government helped us a lot in crossing the border and bringing us to India. The UP government is also helping us a lot by taking us back home…” he said.

The operation continues to bring relief to families across India, with coordinated efforts from both the Central and State governments ensuring the safe return of citizens amid the ongoing tensions in the region.

The first batch of 110 Indian students, including 90 from Kashmir, was safely evacuated from northern Iran and transported to Armenia before being flown to New Delhi. These students were primarily from Urmia Medical University.

The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Saturday. The conflict started after Israel, on June 13, launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, dubbed “Operation Rising Lion”.

In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale drone and missile operation, ‘Operation True Promise 3’, targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres.

New Delhi, June 21: In a powerful demonstration of unity, discipline, and wellness, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) with a grand session held at the iconic Attari-Wagah Border under the global theme, ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health.’

The event saw participation from over 1,000 individuals, including BSF personnel, Indian Army soldiers, BSF families, local villagers, students, and other dignitaries.

The vibrant and symbolic gathering took place at the Joint Check Post (JCP) Attari, offering a unique backdrop for the celebration of India’s ancient wellness tradition at one of its most visible international boundaries.

Inspector General of BSF Punjab Frontier, Atul Fulzele, said, “On the occasion of the 11th International Day of Yoga, we practiced yoga at the JCP Attari premises. BSF personnel, Indian Army soldiers, BSF families, border villagers, and children participated and around a thousand people took part in the session.”

He emphasised the importance of yoga in promoting not only physical strength but also mental resilience, especially for the armed forces and border communities.

The BSF also organised separate yoga sessions at its headquarters and various border outposts along the International Border, ensuring widespread participation across all ranks.

Personnel practiced the Common Yoga Protocol, followed by breathing and meditation exercises designed to foster mindfulness and reduce stress.

The event was part of a larger nationwide celebration involving over one lakh locations under the ‘Yoga Sangam’ initiative, launched by the Ministry of Ayush.

Across the country, an estimated 2 crore people participated in synchronised yoga sessions led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The yoga session at Attari was especially significant, serving as a reminder of the peaceful and spiritual strength that yoga represents, even at the country’s borders.

New York, June 21: US President Donald Trump said that it will be difficult to request Israel stop its airstrikes in Iran, even as he pursues a diplomatic solution to end the conflict.

Trump made the remarks to reporters in New Jersey, where he attended a fundraiser at his golf course, This information was given quoting local media.

Trump also dismissed European efforts to engage diplomatically with Iran. “They didn’t help… Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help on this one.”

Earlier, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said she “can’t speculate” on whether the Trump administration will press for a ceasefire between Iran and Israel to allow US-Iran nuclear talks to move forward.

“I’m not going to characterize what’s happening now, or the reaction by the president or the secretary of state to what those negotiations might be,” Bruce said at a news briefing Friday.

Meanwhile, The Israel Defence Force (IDF) has announced that over 35 missile storage and launch facilities in the Tiberias and Kermanshah areas of Iran have been destroyed in attacks conducted by more than 25 Israeli Air Force fighter jets on Friday morning.

“This morning, the Air Force completed a wave of attacks against military targets of the Iranian regime in areas such as Kermanshah and Tiberias in Iran, with precise intelligence guidance from the Intelligence Branch. As part of the wave of attacks, more than 25 fighter jets attacked more than 35 missile storage and launch facilities in the Tiberias and Kermanshah areas of Iran,” the IDF said in a post on X.

The IDF also mentioned that the Israeli Air Force attacked several Iranian missile systems and radar installations in the areas of Isfahan and Tehran, which intended to target its aircraft and disrupt their operations.