Sandeep Unnithan On West Asia Crisis: India To Begin Evacuations As US Assets Position Near Iran

In this India Today report, the focus is on the escalating tensions in West Asia and India's proactive measures to safeguard its citizens. Sandeep Unnithan highlights the gravity of the situation, stating, 'India is now moving into evacuation mode' as the Ministry of External Affairs prepares the first flight from Tehran to Delhi, primarily for students. The discussion details the strategic positioning of US military assets, including Burke-class destroyers equipped with Tomahawk missiles and the movement of the USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group toward the Arabian Sea. Unnithan explains that the deployment of heavy bombers and fighter jets across regional bases suggests a coordinated 'mosaic' for potential strikes or high-level intimidation against the Iranian regime. Meanwhile, Iran has issued warnings of retaliatory strikes on American bases in the Gulf, heightening regional apprehension. The programme examines whether diplomacy remains viable or if a missile strike is imminent within the next 24 to 48 hours as military assets converge.