Russian President Vladimir Putin has already arrived in India aboard his special aircraft, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to reach India soon. However, Pezeshkian’s flight from Iran to India has become a particular focus because of the route it will take and the security risks associated with Iranian airspace.
After departing Tehran on September 11, Pezeshkian’s aircraft is expected to travel through Pakistani airspace before entering India. According to the report, the aircraft is scheduled to land at Palam Air Force Station at around 2 pm. This journey is not being viewed as a routine VVIP flight. The security of the Iranian president’s aircraft has emerged as a major concern amid the war.
Security agencies are expected to maintain heightened vigilance from the aircraft’s departure from Iran until its entry into Indian airspace. This is because reports of threats to Iranian government aircraft have emerged since the war began.
Pezeshkian is making his first visit to India to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting the summit, which will be held at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13.
The most direct route for Pezeshkian’s aircraft from Tehran to India would take it from Iranian airspace into Pakistan and then towards India. The aircraft will first leave Iranian airspace, enter Pakistani airspace and then proceed into Indian airspace.
The most sensitive part of Pezeshkian’s journey is expected to be the Iranian airspace and the aircraft’s exit from it. Iran is currently fighting a war with the United States and Israel. Attacks on Iran and retaliatory action have continued into the beginning of September. In such circumstances, the initial stretch of the journey after the Iranian president’s aircraft takes off from Tehran is considered to carry the greatest security risk.
After leaving Iranian airspace, the aircraft will enter Pakistani airspace. Relations between Iran and Pakistan are currently cooperative. Pakistan had already provided a fighter-jet escort to Pezeshkian’s aircraft in June. Therefore, travelling through Pakistani airspace is not considered a major political obstacle.
Pakistan has also closed its airspace to Indian aircraft. However, this restriction applies to Indian airlines and does not apply to the special aircraft carrying the Iranian president.
Once Pezeshkian’s aircraft enters Indian airspace, Indian agencies will take charge of security. The Indian Air Force will secure the skies. There has been no confirmation yet on whether the aircraft will receive an escort. However, for a VVIP flight, air security, air traffic control and security agencies will remain coordinated in advance.
A large security cordon has been prepared in Delhi in view of the BRICS Summit. According to reports, around 25,000 to 30,000 security personnel have been deployed. In addition to around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel, around 200 companies of paramilitary forces have also been deployed. More than 100 NSG commandos, SWAT teams, snipers, anti-sabotage teams and anti-drone systems are also part of the security arrangements.
Special preparations have also been made against possible threats from the air. Drone and paraglider activities have been prohibited. Commandos have been deployed on rooftops, while aerial surveillance is also receiving particular attention.
The security concerns surrounding Pezeshkian’s aircraft are not without precedent. The most sensitive stage remains the aircraft’s journey through Iranian airspace until it exits the country. Iran remains in a war situation, and Iranian aircraft have faced security threats in recent times.
Pezeshkian himself was slightly injured in an Israeli attack during the 12-day war in June 2025. At that time, a meeting of his security council in Tehran was targeted.
In April, an Iranian negotiating delegation had travelled to Islamabad. After the US-Iran ceasefire talks, when the delegation was returning to Tehran, there were claims that a warning had been received about a possible attack on its aircraft. Professor Mohammad Marandi, associated with the Iranian side, claimed, citing the Al-Mayadeen news agency, that security was increased after the warning and that an alternative route was used at the last moment instead of the originally planned route.
Another incident on September 1, 2026, further raised questions over the safety of Pezeshkian’s aircraft. At the time, Pezeshkian was returning to Tehran from Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan after attending the SCO Summit. His aircraft, IRAN02, landed in Rasht in northern Iran instead of flying directly to Tehran.
Foreign Minister Araghchi and the sports minister were also travelling with him. The aircraft remained there for several hours before reaching Tehran on the morning of September 2.
That same evening, reports emerged that Iran’s air defence system had been activated in eastern Tehran. At the same time, the United States announced attacks in Iran, while Iranian media reported explosions in several areas.
The sequence of events raised questions over the security of Pezeshkian’s aircraft. However, Iran did not officially link the reason for the landing in Rasht directly to any attack or air-defence operation.
Pezeshkian is expected to reach Palam Air Force Station at around 2 pm on September 11. However, details of the exact entry point into Indian airspace, the altitude at which his aircraft will fly and the air corridor it will use have not been made public. Such sensitive information concerning VVIP flights is not publicly disclosed for security reasons.
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