India, Jan. 16 -- A day ago the Indian Embassy in Iran asked all nationals - including students, pilgrims, businesspersons and tourists - to leave the country using available means, including commercial flights and now New Delhi is drawing up contingency plans to bring back Indian nationals from Iran as the security and political situation there remains volatile, with officials keeping a close watch on developments amid fears of possible US military action, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Officials estimate that around 10,000 Indians are currently in Iran, a significant proportion of them students enrolled in universities and religious institutions across the country. Any evacuation effort, if activated, is expected to...