Srinagar, Jan. 16 -- Amid the evolving situation in Iran, chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday informed that he spoke to external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who assured him that steps will be taken to safeguard the interests and lives of students and other people from Jammu and Kashmir who are in Iran now.

India on Wednesday asked all its nationals residing in Iran to leave by available means and avoid any travel to the country as tensions mounted over possible military intervention by the US over Tehran's crackdown on nationwide protests that killed over 2,500 people.

Hundreds of students and pilgrims are stuck in Iran following the closure of its airspace. However, the evacuation of students and other J&K residents could start...