The US-Israel war against Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, with the airstrike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, entered its 13th day on March 12, with no resolution in sight. Regime change remains the stated goal, amid Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks on Israel and US assets. President Donald Trump has signaled conditional openness to talks, but Tehran has rejected talks, and has vowed a tough response. Global coalitions largely oppose Iran, although some countries such as Russia and China criticize the attacks and call them illegal under international law.
India’s position reflects strategic ambiguity, prioritizing de-escalation, protection of civilians and energy security. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar held a detailed phone call with Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi on March 10 – their third conversation since the conflict began – in which regional developments were discussed. On March 4, India had allowed the Iranian frigate IRIS Lavan to dock in Kochi on humanitarian grounds due to technical difficulties. This occurred shortly after a US submarine torpedoed and sank another Iranian ship, the IRIS Dena, off Sri Lanka on the same day, killing more than 80 sailors.
Amid energy disruptions, the US issued a 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to buy stranded Russian oil cargoes, described as “damage control” to stabilize prices (up to 20% until March 7). India clarified that it never asked for permission, and insisted on independent purchase. Analysts like Shanaka Anslem Perera at
Under PM Narendra Modi, India is pursuing “multi-alignment”: deepening defense ties with Israel (e.g., recent agreements), QUAD security with the US, energy stability with Russia, Chabahar connectivity with Iran, and labor with the Gulf countries. This can avoid isolation, maximize benefits, and maintain “India First”. Experts say it turns non-alignment into an issue-based pivot, opening doors amid the crisis, though critics warn that US-Israel alignment threatens relations with Iran and the stability of Middle East Asia at large.
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