New Delhi, Jan 16 (UNI) India said today that it is keeping a close watch on the Iran situation, and will take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard the around 9,000 Indian nationals living in the Islamic Republic of Iran that has been hit by massive protests. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, answering questions on Iran in his weekly media briefing, said: “In Iran we have 9,000 Indians; most of them are students, and we also have pilgrims and seafarers and businesspersons. We have issued advisories asking Indians to avoid travel to Iran, and those already there were requested to leave.