Medical supplies donated by Indians have been dispatched to the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran this year. Credit: X/@Iran_in_India video screengrab
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has denied Iranian media reports claiming that India rejected Tehran’s request to transport life-saving medicines. It said the two sides remain in contact on the matter as part of a humanitarian effort.
“We remain in contact with our Iranian counterparts to facilitate the transport of life-saving medicines as a humanitarian gesture,” Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press conference on Friday (October 23, 2026), adding that India has consistently supported and continues to facilitate such efforts. However, the ongoing conflict in the region posed challenges to air connectivity between the two countries, he said.
The clarification followed reports in Iranian media quoting Taher Abdolhay, managing director of Iran Air (Homa), who said on October 19 that the airline was unable to import medicines because India and Singapore had not granted flight permits for Iranian aircraft.
Speaking about the Mumbai route, Mr. Abdolhay said: “A proposal to transport medicines, including on passenger flights, was submitted, but permits for cargo flights were not granted.”
CPI(M) MP John Brittas wrote a letter to Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar urging that the government review the reported decision “and facilitate the transportation of essential medicines through direct or alternative civilian arrangements.”
He also asked the government to make it “unequivocally clear that humanitarian considerations will not be casually sacrificed at the altar of geopolitical expediency”.
Iran Air operated a flight per week between Tehran and Mumbai, but the government suspended passenger and cargo flights in May. Two flights were allowed in July for the State funeral of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Published – October 23, 2026 08:02 pm IST