New Delhi, March 11 -- The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday asserted that the government is working to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens stranded in West Asia amid escalating tensions.

MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing an Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia, said that the Indian Embassy in Tehran remains fully operational and is on high alert. The government is assisting Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, who wish to leave the country.

He further added that those choosing to exit Iran via land, the embassy is assisting citizens in crossing into Armenia and Azerbaijan, from where they can board commercial flights to return to India.

"Others continu...