India Walks Diplomatic Tightrope as West Asia Conflict Intensifies, Modi Engages Iran Amid Strategic Concerns
As the conflict in West Asia entered its fourth consecutive week with no visible signs of de-escalation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a crucial telephonic discussion with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, highlighting mounting apprehensions regarding strikes on vital infrastructure and underscoring the necessity of maintaining unhindered maritime movement in the region.
From Tehran’s perspective, authorities reiterated that any pathway towards ending hostilities depends on an “immediate halt to military actions” by both the United States and Israel, describing this step as fundamental for restoring peace.
During the exchange — Modi’s second conversation with Pezeshkian since hostilities erupted on February 28 — India’s concerns regarding attacks on essential facilities were interpreted as referring to recent strikes on energy installations, particularly oil and gas assets.
His emphasis on protecting freedom of navigation was seen as a reference to developments around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime corridor currently facing disruptions amid tensions involving Iran.
Following the interaction, Prime Minister Modi shared a message on X, stating that he conveyed greetings on the occasions of Eid and Nowruz while expressing optimism that the festive period would usher in calm, stability and economic well-being across West Asia.
He strongly criticised attacks targeting key infrastructure, noting that such actions risk undermining regional security and interrupting global trade networks.
PM Modi also reaffirmed the need to ensure that crucial sea routes remain secure and accessible. Additionally, he appreciated Tehran’s assistance in ensuring the safety of Indian citizens residing in Iran.
Before the outbreak of hostilities, nearly 9,000 Indian nationals were present in Iran.
Through coordinated diplomatic efforts, the Indian Embassy has facilitated the evacuation of 913 citizens so far, including 793 individuals transported via Armenia and another 120 through Azerbaijan.
Authorities also confirmed that all 284 Indian pilgrims who were stranded during the conflict have now safely returned to India.
According to the Iranian government’s official account of the conversation, President Pezeshkian elaborated on what he described as acts of aggression and unlawful military operations carried out by the United States and Israel, asserting that Iran had not initiated the conflict.
The statement further alleged that military strikes were conducted without legal justification, even while nuclear negotiations were underway, leading to the deaths of senior military officials, civilians, and religious leadership figures.
Iranian officials also claimed that a school in Minab was struck in an attack allegedly launched from foreign bases hosting US military forces, resulting in the deaths of 168 schoolchildren.
Addressing concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme — frequently cited by Washington as a basis for its actions — Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran’s leadership has consistently opposed the development of nuclear weapons.
He referred to longstanding religious and administrative directives that prohibit the pursuit of nuclear arms, emphasising Iran’s willingness to engage in dialogue and verification processes to demonstrate the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.
The Iranian president also proposed the creation of a cooperative regional security structure involving West Asian nations, intended to promote peace through local collaboration without external interference.
He stressed that cessation of military actions by the United States and Israel, along with assurances preventing future escalation, is essential for any resolution to the crisis.
Pezeshkian further encouraged India, currently holding the chairmanship of BRICS, to utilise the grouping’s platform to highlight concerns regarding the attacks on Iran.
However, India has faced difficulty in building consensus within BRICS, as member nations, including Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, hold differing strategic positions.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has maintained active diplomatic engagement, holding his fifth discussion with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi since the outbreak of the conflict, ensuring continued communication channels amid rising tensions.
Since the crisis began, Prime Minister Modi has also personally interacted with several key leaders across the Gulf region, including the presidents, monarchs and crown princes of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Israel. In separate conversations, India conveyed its concerns over missile strikes impacting regional partners.
In his earlier discussion with Pezeshkian on March 12, Modi had emphasised the gravity of the situation, expressing serious concern over civilian casualties and damage to public infrastructure, while advocating diplomacy as the primary means of conflict resolution.
He had also highlighted India’s priority regarding the safety of its citizens and the smooth functioning of maritime trade routes.
India has been actively coordinating with Iran to ensure the safe transit of its commercial fleet through the Strait of Hormuz, enabling two LPG carriers — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — to successfully pass through the critical channel.
Currently, 22 Indian merchant ships remain positioned within the Persian Gulf region, most of them transporting oil and gas cargo.
These sustained diplomatic engagements illustrate the delicate balance New Delhi is attempting to maintain.
With significant defence cooperation ties with Israel and a large Indian diaspora of nearly one crore people residing across Gulf nations, India is carefully leveraging its longstanding relationship with Iran, along with strategic partnerships in the region to safeguard its economic and geopolitical interests.
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