NEW DELHI — Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, has sounded a stark alarm over the deteriorating situation in Iran. Speaking to media on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Tharoor described the ongoing nationwide uprising as “very serious,” warning that the next few days will be a critical test for the survival of the Khamenei regime.
His remarks coincide with a series of emergency advisories from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which has shifted from advising against travel to now urging Indian citizens currently in Iran to leave the country at the earliest.
1. Tharoor’s Warning: “The Regime is Facing Difficult Circumstances”
Tharoor highlighted the extreme difficulty in gathering accurate data due to a total communication siege imposed by Tehran.
- Information Blackout: “We are not getting much information out of Iran; the internet has been cut. All we know is what we are getting in the media and their sources are also somewhat erratic,” Tharoor stated.
- The Death Toll: Citing various reports, Tharoor noted that an estimated 3,000 protesters have been killed. International rights groups, however, fear the number could be much higher—with some estimates from Iran International and CBS News suggesting between 12,000 and 20,000 deaths since the uprising began on December 28, 2025.
- Critical Window: Tharoor asserted that if the current leadership is to survive, it must navigate the “next few days” of intense, nationwide unrest that has reached over 280 locations.
2. MEA Issues “Strong Advice” to Indian Nationals
The Indian government has significantly escalated its travel warnings as the security situation in Iran spirals.
- Avoid Travel: On Wednesday, the MEA “strongly advised” all Indian nationals to avoid travel to Iran until further notice. This follows a previous, less severe advisory issued on January 5.
- Urgent Exit: The Indian Embassy in Tehran has gone a step further, advising students, pilgrims, and tourists already in Iran to leave the country immediately via any available commercial flights.
- Emergency Helplines: The Embassy has released several mobile helplines (+989128109115; +989128109109) for Indians requiring assistance with travel documents or evacuation.
3. Airspace Closure and Military Escalation
Iran’s sudden closure of its airspace has fueled speculation of a potential external military strike or a massive internal “kill zone” operation.
- NOTAM Order: Tehran issued a “Notice to Air Missions” (NOTAM) early Thursday, extending its airspace closure to all but a few authorized international flights.
- Global Impact: As a key East-West transit route, the closure has forced airlines worldwide to reroute, causing massive delays and cancellations.
- US Movements: The closure follows reports of the U.S. withdrawing personnel from the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, leading to fears that Washington may be preparing for a strike against Tehran in response to reports of mass executions.