PM Modi spoke to Iranian President

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on phone with Iranian President Massoud Pezhekian on Thursday night and discussed the “serious situation” in West Asia.

Modi expressed deep concern over the escalating tension in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.

The Prime Minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian citizens as well as the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy remains India’s top priority.

“Spoke with Iranian President Dr. Massoud Pezeshkian to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions and loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on Twitter.

The Prime Minister also reiterated India’s commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.

Notably, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping route through which much of India’s energy imports flow.

Two days earlier, an India-bound bulk oil carrier was fired upon by Iranian forces while it was trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries over the past 10 days in the wake of the coordinated attack launched by the United States and Israel against Iran that killed the Islamic country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei last month.

In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israeli and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global trade and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.

Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries and condemned the violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of some countries.

He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community living in those countries.

About 10 million Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian nationals live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.