In a phone conversation, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conveyed India’s “deep concerns” to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi regarding escalating military conflict in West Asia. Jaishankar strongly condemned targeted strikes on commercial shipping and civilian seafarers, urging all parties to halt maritime hostilities.
The high-level diplomatic outreach follows heightened military exchanges across the Persian Gulf, including retaliatory U.S. airstrikes in Iran and enforcement blockades along major shipping routes.
Highlights of the Jaishankar–Araghchi Dialogue
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Protection of Seafarers: Jaishankar emphasized that non-combatant seafarers and commercial merchant vessels must be shielded from regional hostilities under all circumstances.
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Iran’s Perspective Shared: Foreign Minister Araghchi briefed the Indian delegation on Tehran’s assessment of current security developments and ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
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Commitment to Peace: India reaffirmed its stance advocating for immediate de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomatic engagement to safeguard crucial international waters.
Escalating Tensions in West Asia
The conversation took place against the backdrop of significant military actions across the region:
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U.S. Maritime Enforcement: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported redirecting 24 commercial vessels, disabling two, and boarding two others to maintain a regional blockade.
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U.S. Airstrikes in Iran: Following an intercepted Iranian missile attack targeting American forces in Jordan, the U.S. conducted retaliatory strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) assets in southern Iranian provinces, including Hormozgan and Khuzestan.
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Seafarer Safety Crisis: Surging drone and missile strikes in critical maritime bottlenecks have severely disrupted global merchant routes, creating an acute humanitarian risk for Indian crews navigating the region.
