New Delhi: Amid rising tensions in the region, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday over the phone. He expressed India’s concerns and made it clear that commercial vessels and seafarers should not be targeted.
“India condemns attacks from any side”
Following the conversation, Jaishankar posted on X. He wrote, “Spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister @araghchi this evening. Expressed deep concern at the ongoing tensions in the region.” He stressed, “Attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers must be avoided at all costs. India condemns such attacks by any side.” Jaishankar also reiterated that India supports dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.
Iran told the current situation
Araghchi briefed Jaishankar on Iran’s perspective on current developments in the region and the ongoing negotiations. The foreign minister said India has always advocated restraint and a peaceful solution.
Had also talked to Ukraine a day before
This conversation came a day after Jaishankar raised the issue of attacks on Indian sailors in the Black Sea with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Tsibiha. He described the attacks on merchant ships as “completely unacceptable.” Recently, an Indian sailor was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the merchant ship MV Omorfi. According to official figures, five Indian sailors have died and two are missing in Russian and Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea.
16 Indians killed in Middle East
The government told Parliament a day earlier that 16 Indians, including 10 sailors, have died since the Middle East conflict began in February. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said eight Indians died in Oman, four in the UAE, two in Kuwait, one in Iraq and one in Saudi Arabia.
Seventy-five Indians were also injured during this period. Thirty-two were injured in the UAE, 24 in Oman, and 13 in Kuwait. Furthermore, 12 Indians died in a separate accident at the Ras Laffan gas plant in Qatar.
Over 2,500 Indians evacuated from Iran
The government stated that since February, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has facilitated the evacuation of 2,557 Indians from Iran to India via Armenia and Azerbaijan. Currently, there are approximately 7,000 Indians in Iran, including students, medical students, laborers, sailors, and fishermen. The Ministry has raised the issues of medical students and appealed to citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran until the situation normalizes.