New Delhi: The Embassy of India in Tehran on Wednesday urged Indian nationals to leave Iran at the earliest amid an evolving security situation, even as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he spoke by phone in the evening with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi and discussed “the evolving regional situation”.The advisory issued by the Indian mission in Tehran, dated January 14, 2026, follows an earlier warning issued by the Government of India on January 5. It stated that any Indian citizen, whether students, pilgrims, businesspersons or tourists were advised to use all available means of transport, including commercial flights, to depart the country.The embassy also asked Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) to remain cautious, avoid areas witnessing protests or demonstrations, and stay in close contact with the Indian mission while closely monitoring local media for updates. Indian nationals have further been advised to keep their travel and identification documents readily accessible and to register with the embassy if they have not already done so.According to government estimates, there are approximately 9,000 Indian nationals currently in Iran. This population includes about 2,000 medical students, 4,000 seminary students, and 2,000 fishermen located in coastal areas.In a post on X, Jaishankar said he had spoken with Araghchi and that they had discussed “the evolving regional situation”. No further details of the conversation were disclosed.Received a call from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. @araghchiWe discussed the evolving situation in and around Iran.— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 14, 2026An Iranian foreign ministry readout of the call issued on Thursday stated that Araghchi characterised the nationwide unrest as “peaceful protests” that had been “diverted by foreign-trained terrorist elements.” He emphasised the “determination and unity” of the Iranian nation to confront what he described as “sedition.”The Iranian foreign minister also strongly condemned what the statement termed “interventionist and provocative positions” taken by American officials in Iran’s internal affairs.According to the readout, Jaishankar underlined the importance of developing relations between India and Iran, called for stability and restraint in the region, and said India was ready to cooperate and assist towards that end.An advisory issued on January 14 by India’s Ministry of External Affairs also said Indian nationals were “once again strongly advised to avoid travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran until further notice”, referring to guidance first issued on January 5.The fresh advisory by the embassy suggests that Indian authorities are taking US President Donald Trump’s utterances about attacking the Iranian regime seriously. There has been concern over public order and potential risks to foreign nationals amid ongoing protests and a crackdown on dissenters in the country. The Associated Press on Tuesday (January 14) cited the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which claimed over 2,500 deaths in the government’s quelling of protests in Iran.International human rights groups have expressed alarm at reports of hundreds of deaths and thousands of detentions during the unrest in Iran, which have coincided with a fresh round of travel advisories issued by multiple governments.Several Western governments have issued fresh or reiterated warnings advising their citizens to avoid travel to Iran amid a deteriorating security situation. The US State Department, in a January 12 security alert, urged US nationals to leave Iran immediately if it is safe to do so, citing unrest, road closures, disruptions to flights and periodic internet shutdowns. The advisory noted that some land border crossings remain open and may offer a route out if commercial air travel was unavailable. It warned those unable to depart to avoid demonstrations and be prepared to shelter in place.Similar guidance has been issued by other governments. Australia’s Smartraveller website continues to advise Australians not to travel to Iran and says those already there should leave as soon as it is safe, warning of a volatile security environment, the risk of arbitrary detention and severely limited consular assistance.Canada’s travel advisory has classified Iran at its highest risk level and urged Canadians to avoid all travel and depart if possible, while the United Kingdom Foreign Office has advised against all travel to the country, citing security risks and unpredictable enforcement of local laws.US President Donald Trump has warned of taking “very strong action” if Iranian authorities escalated violence against protesters, though without specifying what form that action would take. He said the US would come to the aid of protesters if they were violently suppressed, saying “help is on the way“. Fresh sanctions and a freeze on official engagement with Tehran were announced. He reportedly announced on his Truth Social account: “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!”Others in the US, such as Senator Lindsey Graham, have urged Trump to authorise what he described as overwhelming military, cyber and psychological action against Iran, to support protesters. Graham said the intervention should stop short of deploying ground troops.Meanwhile, AP reported Iran’s security chief warning Trump against taking action. It cited Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, responding to US posturing by writing: “We declare the names of the main killers of the people of Iran: 1- Trump 2-” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Protesters in Iran took to the streets in December 2025 over spiralling inflation and a collapsing currency, but as demonstrations spread, their demands expanded to include political freedom and opposition to clerical rule.Elsewhere in Asia, Japan has raised most of Iran, including Tehran, to Level 3, advising citizens to avoid all travel due to protests, rising deaths and severe communications blackouts. It has kept some border regions at Level 4, which urges evacuation, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters on January 12, Japan Today reported.While India is not alone in urging caution to its citizens in Iran, there is also no indication from New Delhi that its advisories are tied to any anticipated external action in the country. Indian citizens were previously asked to evacuate from Iran during its clashes with Iran in 2025.