New Delhi, 11 April (H.S.):

312 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran have safely returned to the homeland via Armenia.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar announced on the social media platform X that 312 Indian fishermen have been safely brought back to India from Iran. He extended special thanks to the Government of Armenia and its Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Jaishankar stated that this challenging mission was made possible only through Armenia's cooperation.

The entire operation was successfully completed through coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy, local administration, and several other agencies.

These fishermen had been stuck in Iran for a long time due to various reasons.

The Government of India persistently worked towards their safe return. First, they were evacuated from Iran to Armenia, from where they were brought to India by air. During this process, all necessary documentation and security protocols were meticulously followed. Special attention was also given to their food, beverages, health check-ups, and other facilities throughout the journey.

Earlier, on April 5, amid the ongoing military conflict in West Asia, a total of 345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran had safely reached Chennai via Armenia.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar