Want to leave but have exams: Indian students in Iran seek PM's intervention

Hundreds of Indian nationals, a large proportion of them medical students from Jammu and Kashmir, are enroled at Iranian universities. They say universities have not postponed exams even as fears of conflict with the US grow.

Amid soaring tensions, the Indian Embassy in Tehran on February 23 asked all Indian nationals, including students, to leave Iran by available commercial transport. For many students, however, departure is not a simple option. Missing scheduled assessments could delay graduation or jeopardise professional recognition of degrees.

Indian students studying in Iran have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention after the advisory, which collided with university examinations scheduled for March.

Hundreds of Indian nationals — a large proportion of them medical students from Jammu and Kashmir — are enroled at Iranian universities. They say universities have not postponed exams even as fears of conflict with the US grow.

#WATCH | Tehran, Iran: On the situation in Iran, Indian student Bilal Bhat says, "We have our exams on 5th March and 28th March. According to the advisory of the Indian embassy in Tehran, they have told us to leave the country immediately, but we cannot, as this is the most pic.twitter.com/bp2WbPwjW8

"We want to come back home. Our families are worried," said Bilal Bhat, an Indian medical student in Iran, as quoted by ANI. "But our exams are scheduled in March and there is no clarity on postponement. If we miss exams, it will affect our academic year."

Students say they are not seeking evacuation at present but want diplomatic engagement, so universities consider rescheduling exams. They argue this would allow those who wish to leave temporarily to do so without academic penalties.