By BK Singh
As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to spiral into open conflict, thousands of innocent foreign nationals—especially Indian Shia pilgrims and students—are bearing the brunt of a crisis they had no part in creating.
Among those stranded is Abbas Muzaffar, a journalist from Prayagraj, who is stuck in the Iranian city of Qom along with his elderly mother, Kaneez Haider. What was supposed to be a spiritual journey has turned into a harrowing ordeal as airstrikes, missile attacks, and chaos grip large parts of Iran.
“There is fear all around,” said Abbas, speaking to Witness Times from Qom. “We hear missiles, we see destruction, and we don’t know if we will make it back.” Abbas is part of a group of 91 pilgrims from Prayagraj, currently sheltering in a hotel roughly 120 kilometers from Tehran. The worsening conflict has left them cut off, anxious, and desperate for help.
This is not an isolated case. According to Abbas, more than a thousand pilgrims from Prayagraj alone are currently stranded in various cities across Iran. Groups from other parts of India are also trapped, caught between a spiritual mission and a geopolitical disaster.
Abbas and his mother were scheduled to return to India on June 13 via Flight W5071 from Tehran to New Delhi. But as war clouds thickened over Iran, and runways were either bombed or shut down, the flight was canceled. The group was forced to return to their hotel in Qom, where they have remained ever since. With infrastructure crumbling, escape routes shrinking, and communications sporadic, options for evacuation are vanishing.
Airports in Ruins, Panic Rising
Iran’s key airports are no longer operational. Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport has been shut down amid fears of bombings, and Mehrabad Airport has sustained damage. The airport in Mashhad, another major city of pilgrimage, has also been heavily bombed by Israeli airstrikes.
Qom and Mashhad—home to two major Shiite religious sites—now resemble conflict zones. Qom houses the shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh, sister of Imam Reza, while the latter’s shrine is in Mashhad. With both cities affected by the escalating war, pilgrims find themselves in grave danger.
“There were explosions in vehicles near us. It suggests possible involvement of locals,” said Abbas, highlighting the broader security concerns. Reports of oil depot bombings and car blasts in Tehran further underline the scale of the crisis.
Students Also at Risk
The crisis has also disrupted the lives of around 15,000 Indian students, including those studying in religious seminaries and medical colleges across Iran. Many, according to Abbas, have been relocated to safer regions in northern Iran, possibly to be evacuated through the Armenian border. Several of these students also hail from Prayagraj.
Though media reports suggest that the Indian government has begun efforts to evacuate students, many—including Abbas—say they have yet to receive any communication from the Indian Embassy. Despite repeated attempts to establish contact, the response has been either delayed or absent.
Abbas shared his contact details with Witness Times in the hope that someone from the Indian side would act. His Iranian number is +98 9907142733, and his Indian number (with limited access) is +91 9833199567. His and his mother’s passport numbers are R0068060 and C7572456, respectively.
No Way Out
As of now, Abbas and hundreds of others remain stuck in Qom, living under constant threat of airstrikes and missile attacks. “We don’t know when a missile might hit the very building we’re staying in,” he said, echoing the fear of many.
The situation is dire, and while some students may eventually find their way out through northern routes, pilgrims in cities like Qom and Mashhad remain in limbo. “It’s a wait-and-watch situation,” Abbas sighed, the helplessness in his voice unmistakable.
This war, thousands of miles from India, has become a personal tragedy for so many innocent Indian nationals—pilgrims who came for peace and students who came to learn—now trapped in a storm not of their making, waiting for rescue in a foreign land.