India asks citizens to leave Iran amid fresh Israeli strikes

The Indian embassy in Iran on Monday advised Indian citizens to leave the country “by available means” amid fresh strikes by Israel.

The embassy also reiterated its earlier advice that Indians should not travel to Iran.

The Indian embassy in Tel Aviv advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel within Israel and asked them to exercise caution, monitor local news and official announcements.

It also said that it was strongly advising Indians to “strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and instructions” issued by the Israeli authorities.

The statements by the Indian diplomatic missions came amid a second round of strikes in Iran on Monday.

A large blast was heard in central Tehran, AFP reported. It was followed by repeated explosions, which the news agency said were believed to be from Iranian air defence systems in the capital.

The Iranian military claimed that it had “shot down a hostile enemy drone” over Tehran, state-run news agency Mehr reported.

The Mehrabad airport in Tehran and the Kermanshah airport cancelled all flights “until further notice”, Al Jazeera reported.

Hours after the second round of strikes, Trump said that Israel and Iran “must immediately stop ‘shooting’”.

About an hour later, he said that both sides were “looking to do an immediate ceasefire”.

The US president said that final negotiations were “proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way”. The blockade of Iranian ports imposed by the...

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