Explained: How India-Armenia Alliance is Paying Off Amid Iran-Israel crises?

Amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, India has launched Operation Sindhu— India’s emergency mission to evacuate its citizens from conflict-hit regions. Under this operation, over 110 Indian students have already been evacuated, with more efforts underway.

In this difficult time, India’s strong diplomatic and strategic ties with Armenia are proving to be a major advantage, allowing for a safe and practical evacuation route.

Why the Evacuation Is Difficult?

Iran has shut down its airspace due to the ongoing conflict. This means that flights cannot take off or land, making it nearly impossible for countries like India to carry out direct air evacuations. To bring back stranded Indians, land routes must now be used. However, Iran’s neighbouring countries pose a challenge:

• Pakistan, to the east, is India’s main geopolitical rival and recently had military tensions with India. The 900-km border with Pakistan is not an option.
• Afghanistan, also to the east, is under Taliban control. India has no formal ties with the Taliban, making evacuations through Afghanistan unsafe.
• Turkey and Azerbaijan, to the west and north, openly supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, a previous Indian military operation. Relations with these nations have worsened, and their borders with Iran are not favorable for Indian evacuations.
• Iraq is in the middle of the conflict zone and although its border is open, most of its airports are shut due to the fighting, making it an unreliable option.
• Turkmenistan, to the northeast, has a sparsely populated border area with Iran, and logistical issues make this route difficult to use.

Armenia: The Best Possible Route

This leaves India with one strong, safe option: Armenia. The Iran-Armenia border is only 44 km long, but it is highly accessible. The Indian Embassy in Tehran has already used the Nurduz-Agarak border crossing to help evacuate over 110 Indians. A special flight from Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, brought them home safely.

The 730 km journey from Tehran to this border crossing can be made via a recently improved highway in just about half a day. This route is currently the most viable and safest evacuation path for India.

How India-Armenia Ties Are Helping

India’s growing alliance with Armenia did not happen overnight. Over the past few years, India has invested heavily in strengthening ties with Armenia, and this is now paying off.

• India has openly supported Armenia in its ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan, especially over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
• In 2022, India signed a $250 million defense deal with Armenia, supplying them with powerful weapons like the PINAKA rocket system and Akash air defense systems.
• Armenia has backed India on important global issues like the Kashmir dispute and India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

This deep friendship has now made it easier for India to depend on Armenia in times of crisis. Yerevan’s cooperation in evacuating Indian nationals shows the trust and respect built through years of strategic partnership.

Strategic Importance of Armenia

Armenia is located in the southern Caucasus and plays a key role in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). This corridor is a major economic and geopolitical project that aims to connect India to Europe via Iran and Armenia. Strengthening this route is crucial for India’s long-term interests in trade, connectivity, and influence in the region.

By helping India during the Iran-Israel crisis, Armenia is proving to be more than just a diplomatic partner—it is a strategic ally in every sense.

This is to be noted that, the recent conflict between two nations was erupted on June 13, 2025 which has been continuing with a series of attacks from both the sides, targeting each other’s nuclear and military sites. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israel, hitting places like Tel Aviv and a hospital in Beersheba, killing hundreds. The conflict has caused civilian panic, damaged hospitals, and disrupted life in both countries.