With rising oil prices and threats to shipping routes, Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spent Sunday on the phone with some of West Asia’s most important voices, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. The round of calls signals how seriously New Delhi is treating the crisis now threatening the arteries of global energy supplies.
Which triggered the flood of calls
The diplomatic activity came hours after US President Donald Trump issued a sketchy warning to Tehran, threatening to attack Iranian power plants and bridges unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow junction between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows daily.
Iran has effectively blocked the waterway in recent weeks, although it has allowed vessels from friendly countries, including India, to enter. The exemption has bought Delhi some breathing room, but officials are keenly aware that it could disappear overnight.
Jaishankar and Araghchi: Reading Between the Lines
After his interview with Araghchi, Jaishankar took to social media to post his words. “Received a phone call from Foreign Minister @araghchi from Iran. He discussed the current situation,” he said, without giving any further details.
The Iranian embassy in Delhi was somewhat more forthcoming, confirming that the two ministers were addressing bilateral relations alongside broader regional and international developments.
Diplomatic observers note that Iran’s decision to initiate the call has its own significance — Tehran appears to want to keep channels open with a country it views as a hostile power in an increasingly hostile international environment.
Qatar and the UAE: Energy, Stability and Quiet Influence
Jaishankar’s engagement with Iran is not over. His conversation with Qatar’s prime minister, who also holds the portfolio of foreign minister, focused squarely on the ongoing conflict. “I was on the phone this evening about the ongoing conflict with PM & FM @MBA_AlThani_ of Qatar,” Jaishankar commented.
Qatar’s position is particularly significant: the Gulf state is among the world’s largest exporters of LNG and has historically played a back-channel role in some of the region’s most complex disputes.
After talking to Al Nahyan, Jaishankar said: “Discussed the evolving situation in West Asia with DPM & FM @ABZayed of UAE.” The United Arab Emirates, the trade and logistics hub of the region, has a strong interest in restoring normal shipping routes to Hormuz.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important to India?
For India, the stakes in this crisis are not just diplomatic—they are existential in economic terms. West Asia supplies a substantial portion of India’s oil and gas imports, and any prolonged disruption to transit through Hormuz would affect fuel prices, fertilizer costs and ultimately food security for hundreds of millions of people.
New Delhi has pursued what could be described as quiet but effective diplomacy over the past fortnight, putting pressure on all sides to quickly end the conflict and restore unimpeded commercial navigation through the strait. Indian officials have been candid about the potential consequences: a permanent blockade, they say, could have serious consequences for fuel and fertilizer security not only in India but across the developing world.
