In a major diplomatic outreach to its neighbours, India said Saturday it will evacuate nationals of Nepal and Sri Lanka who are stranded in Iran and want to leave the country.

Officials in Delhi framed it as an example of India’s “neighbourhood first policy” — of helping its neighbours in times of crisis, be it conflict, natural calamity or pandemic.

This announcement came on the day two more flights, operated by the Iranian Mahan Air, landed in Delhi.

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The Indian embassy in Tehran, in a post on X, said, “On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka.”

“The citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka may urgently reach out to the Embassy, either on the Telegram channel or over the emergency contact numbers: +989010144557;+989128109115; +989128109109,” it stated.

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba expressed Kathmandu’s gratitude. In a post on X, she thanked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar “for India’s swift assistance in helping to evacuate Nepali nationals from Iran”.

Also Read | What to know about Iran’s nuclear sites as tensions with Israel escalate

“India’s support in Nepal’s evacuation efforts is a reflection of the strength of Nepal-India ties,” she said.

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Sources said about 16 Nepal nationals are in touch with the Nepalese embassy in Delhi.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a post, said, “Sri Lanka extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of India for the timely assistance to evacuate Sri Lankan nationals from Iran alongside Indian citizens. This act of solidarity exemplifies the strong and enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and India, and is deeply appreciated by the people of Sri Lanka.”

So far, a total of 827 Indians have been evacuated from Iran.

“Another evacuation flight from Mashhad landed in New Delhi at 1630 hrs on 21 June with 310 Indian nationals from Iran. With this, a total of 827 Indians have been evacuated,” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said.

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A group of about 290 Indian nationals, including students, reached Delhi late Friday night and early Saturday after being evacuated from Iran as its war with Israel intensified.

On Wednesday, India announced the launch of Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals from Iran.

“Operation Sindhu flight brings citizens home. India evacuated 290 Indian nationals from Iran, including students and religious pilgrims by a charter flight. The flight arrived in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 20 June and was received by Secretary (CPV& OIA) Arun Chatterjee,” Jaiswal wrote on X.

“Government of India is grateful to the Government of Iran for the facilitation of the evacuation process,” he said.

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The first batch of 110 Indian nationals, evacuated under Operation Sindhu, arrived in India Thursday, with many evacuees sharing firsthand accounts of the frightening situation they witnessed before being moved to safer locations.

Explained As it did in Ukraine This is not the first time that Delhi has stepped in to evacuate citizens of its neighbours. In the early days of the Ukraine war, India evacuated nationals of neighbouring countries along with its own.

Delhi managed to persuade Tehran to open Iranian airspace for the evacuation of around 1,000 Indians via the north-eastern town of Mashhad.

Sources said Delhi, after days of negotiations, moved its nationals to Mashhad and secured overflight permissions from Iran and Turkmenistan to fly Indians out of harm’s way.

Also Read | What to know about Iran’s nuclear assets targeted by Israeli strikes

Mashhad is close to Iran’s border with Turkmenistan, and India found an air corridor for a safe flight out.

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Indians were moved from Tehran to Qom and then to Mashhad, with the help of the Indian embassy and Iranian authorities.

India’s ties with Iran and Israel puts it in a delicate spot, where it has to do some diplomatic balancing act. Delhi has strategic stakes with Iran – from Chabahar port to shared concerns on Pakistan and Afghanistan. So, it has been very careful in its statements. It has a very strategic security and defence partnership with Israel as well.