Three Indian nationals from Punjab who went missing in Iran last month have been rescued by Tehran police, the Iranian Embassy in India confirmed on Tuesday.
In a statement on social media platform X, the embassy announced, “Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police. Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran.”
According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency (MNA), the men were reported kidnapped on May 1, shortly after arriving in Iran. The trio had travelled there en route to Australia, lured by promises of high-paying jobs by a local travel agency.
MNA further reported that the men were rescued in Varamin, a town in southern Tehran, following a police operation against their captors.
On May 29, the Iranian Embassy had confirmed that the case was being actively pursued by the Consular Affairs Department of Iran’s Foreign Ministry in coordination with judicial authorities.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also acknowledged the incident and stated that it was in constant touch with Iranian authorities. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India had received “good cooperation” from Tehran and was providing all possible assistance to the victims’ families.
“We are in daily touch with the authorities there. Obviously, family members in such situations have their own anxiety. So, we are extending all possible help,” Jaiswal said at a recent press briefing.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran had earlier issued a statement on X noting that the men’s families had reported them missing and that the embassy had strongly taken up the matter with Iranian officials, seeking their urgent rescue.
The three men are now reportedly safe, and efforts are underway to facilitate their return to India.