'We are watching...': MEA says India monitoring Iran protests, advises nationals 'not to venture out'

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday said that India is closely monitoring the situation in Iran amid deadly protests and has advised its nationals to avoid “venturing out” or getting caught in the unrest.

Addressing a special briefing following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s maiden visit to India, Misri said, “We are watching the developments in Iran… We have a significant community of expatriate Indians and also students from India in Iran."

#WATCH | Gandhinagar, Gujarat | Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "On Iran and Greenland... I won't be able to go into the details of what the two leaders discussed... We are watching the developments in Iran... We have a significant community of expatriate Indians and also… pic.twitter.com/9pIrk9mTly

— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2026

He said the Indian embassy has been in touch with the Indian community despite restrictions on the ground.

“Despite the restrictions in place, our embassy has been able to reach out to the student community and find that they are all doing well and have not faced any difficulties thus far. We have advised all of our compatriots there not to venture out or find themselves in the middle of the disturbances," he added.

Misri’s remarks come as protests in Iran, which began on December 28 over rising prices, have escalated into the biggest challenge to the country’s clerical leadership since 2022.

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According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), more than 500 people have been killed and over 10,600 detained during the two weeks of unrest.

Tensions have further intensified following renewed warnings by US President Donald Trump of possible American intervention in support of protesters. Tehran, in response, has threatened retaliation against US military assets in the region.

On Sunday, Trump said Iran wanted to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, said “the situation has come under total control" and added that Iran was “open to diplomacy".

PM Modi raises Ariha Shah case with Merz

Misri said New Delhi remains in close engagement with Germany over the case of baby Ariha Shah, who has been in German foster care for the past 40 months, noting that it is a sensitive matter and that discussions with the German government have been ongoing for a considerable period.

“We have been in discussions with the German government, all the German authorities, their embassy here in Delhi, and the German government in Berlin, and all the agencies involved, for quite some time. This case was, at one point, a legal matter, but we believe that ultimately, it should be approached keeping in mind the humanitarian issues involved,” said Misri.

#WATCH | Gandhinagar, Gujarat | On the issue of Ariha Shah, an Indian girl child who has been in German foster care for 40 months, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "We have been in discussions with the German government, all the German authorities, their embassy here in… pic.twitter.com/0kgCjpKwEP

— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2026

“We understand the family’s distress and difficulties… We are fully aware of the situation, and we are trying our best to help them in every way possible. We are also trying to ensure that Baby Ariha is raised as much as possible in an Indian environment, whether it’s interacting with Indian people or participating in Indian festivals being celebrated in Germany. We would like to make arrangements for her to learn Hindi,” he added.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also discussed the matter with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and that it is being given due priority, similar to other important issues.

“Prime Minister Modi also mentioned this to the Chancellor, so we will continue to follow up with the German government on this issue, and we will stay with the family at every step…,” said Misri.

With inputs from agencies