New Delhi [India], April 11 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday announced that 312 Indian fishermen were safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia.
Jaishankar thanked Armenian officials for facilitating the evacuation. In a post on X, he said, “Another 312 Indian fishermen safely evacuated from Iran to India through Armenia. Thank the Government of Armenia and my friend Ararat Mirzoyan for making it possible.”
Earlier, on April 4, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal welcomed Indian fishermen who arrived in Chennai after being repatriated from Iran via Armenia, following a significant diplomatic effort by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Speaking to reporters, Goyal described the return as a “joyous day” for the families of the fishermen, who had been stranded in Iran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
“Today is a joyous day where our brothers and sisters who were suffering in Iran are coming back home to their families and motherland. We warmly welcome all our fishermen brothers and sisters. It was a difficult journey for them. They had to travel for 20 hours to Armenia and other countries,” Goyal said.
“The MEA officials worked day and night to bring them to Armenia. Today they are flying back from Armenia. We are very happy to receive them and welcome them back home,” he added.
Armenia has been facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals from Iran. On April 2, the MEA said that more than 1,200 Indian nationals had been safely evacuated from Iran, of whom 996 were moved to Armenia.
Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the evacuation was being carried out through Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the Centre closely coordinating efforts on the ground.
“Some 1,200 Indian nationals have been evacuated, of which 845 are students,” Jaiswal said. He added, “996 moved to Armenia and 204 to Azerbaijan, from where they are being assisted by the MEA.” (ANI)
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