India, Jan. 15 -- Indian authorities are making preparations to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran because of the evolving situation in the country amid apprehensions of possible US military intervention, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

The Indian embassy in Tehran is currently focused on ascertaining the number of Indian nationals wishing to return but the internet shutdown imposed by Iranian authorities is proving to be a major hurdle in contacting citizens, the people said on condition of anonymity.

There are some 10,000 Indians in Iran, including a large number of students. The students will be the focus of any evacuation effort, and the first flight to repatriate Indians could be operated "as early as Friday", th...