'I Came to Iran to Study, Not to Survive a War... Now I Just Hope to Get Home'

"I don't know if I will be able to finish my MBBS program from Tehran... all I want right now is to go home."

Hundreds of Indian students studying in Iran have been stuck in the middle of war.

(Image altered by The Quint/Kamran Akhtar)

Two years ago, I left my home in Budgam district, Kashmir, and came to Iran with nothing but hope in my heart — hope of building a better future, of doing something meaningful with my life.

I was thrilled when I got admission into the MBBS program at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. For me, it felt like the beginning of a dream finally coming true.

But today, that dream feels like it’s collapsing all around me.

I’m no longer sitting in a classroom with books and lectures — I’m in the middle of a war zone. I’m trapped in a country under attack, surrounded by the terrifying sounds of Israeli missiles, drones, and bombs.

I came here to chase a future, but now, I find myself simply praying to survive the present.

On 13 June, just before dawn, I woke up for morning prayers. Suddenly, loud explosions tore through the silence near our dormitory at Tehran University, where I live with other medical students. We rushed outside, only to witness missiles being intercepted in the sky, right above our heads. One after another. Sirens started blaring. Soon, the news confirmed it — Tehran had been attacked by Israel.

My heart was pounding. This wasn’t what we had signed up for when we enrolled in a medical course. We wanted to save lives, not fear for our own.

Within hours, the attack intensified. Explosions grew louder. Just a few kilometres from our university campus, a missile struck the Ministry of Petroleum building. We didn’t know what to do or where to go.

In one of the blasts, at least three students I knew — from a different university hostel — were injured.

Panicked and desperate, we reached out to the Indian Embassy in Tehran, hoping someone would help. After three anxious days of constant back and forth, we were finally evacuated from Tehran on 16 June and brought to Qom, a city about 150 kilometres to the south.

But even here, peace feels like a distant dream. As soon as we arrived, we heard fresh explosions. A few hours later, we were told the highway had been bombed and blocked.

We’re constantly living in fear, counting minutes, listening for sirens, and hoping the next explosion doesn’t come too close.

At this point, I don’t know what the future holds for my career. I’m just in my second year of MBBS, and I don’t even know if I’ll get the chance to finish what I started. But right now, none of that matters as much as one thing — I just want to go home.

I want to see my family again, to hold them, to know they’re safe and that I am too. That’s the only thing I’m praying for now.

MEA's Statement

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)'s statement on 16 June read, "The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety."

"In some cases, students are being relocated with Embassy’s facilitation to safer places within Iran. Other feasible options are also under examination. Further updates will follow. Separately, the Embassy is in touch with community leaders regarding welfare and safety."

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