Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday to discuss the escalating situation in West Asia and expressed concern over rising tensions, civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure in the region.
In a post on X, PM Modi said the conversation focused on the “serious situation” unfolding in the region amid intensifying hostilities.
“I had a conversation with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the serious situation in the region. They expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
This is PM Modi’s first conversation with an Iranian leader since the outbreak of war following the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on 28 February. Ahead of it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi during the ongoing conflict between Israel, the US and Iran.
In his interview on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the “safety and security of Indian citizens” along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy remain India’s top priorities.
“He reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability and called for dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.
Prior to his meeting with the Iranian president on March 12, Prime Minister Modi discussed the evolving situation with the leaders of the UAW, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar, among others, in a diplomatic engagement with the Gulf countries.
Hours after the Supreme Leader’s first report
The interview comes on the 13th day of an escalating conflict in West Asia. Hours before Modi’s phone call with Iran’s president, Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khameneihe said that the leverage effect of closing the Strait of Hormuz should be used and that Iranian attacks on Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf would continue.
This was it Mojtaba Khamenei’s first public statement since his appointment as Supreme Leader after killing his father Ali Khamenei during the US-Israeli attacks last month. The message was read by a news anchor on state television.
Unrelenting Iranian attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure in Persian Gulf pushed oil back above $100 a barrel on Thursday as US and Israeli strikes pounded the Islamic Republic with no sign of an end to the war in sight, the Associated Press reported.
Iran on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace in the region. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told regional leaders on Wednesday that his country was willing to de-escalate the conflict if certain conditions were met.
“In a conversation with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region,”Pezeshkian said in a post on X.
