New Delhi: The Iran war, which erupted after joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other leaders, is well into its fourth week.
Amid mixed signals, claims and counter claims from both sides over possible end to the conflict in the Gulf region, US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the global crisis.
Both leaders stressed on the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
“President Donald Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. They discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open,” US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said in a post on X.
Minutes later, Prime Minister Modi also took to his X handle to state he had a “useful exchange” with the US President.
“Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability,” Modi wrote.
Modi, in his address to both houses of Parliament, said that any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz was “unacceptable”.
The Indian PM raised concern over attacks on commercial vessels and disturbances in the global shipping route.
“Attacks on commercial ships and disruptions in international waterways like the Hormuz Strait are unacceptable. Through diplomacy, India is continuously making efforts for the safe passage of Indian ships, even in this atmosphere of war,” Modi said in the Lok Sabha.
A narrow waterway between Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz one of the most important passages a a significant share of the world’s oil shipments goes through it.
Thanks to the blockade, a global energy crisis has been triggered over the past three weeks.
Speaking in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Modi warned that the crisis has shaken the global economy and could take a long time to recover.
“This war has created a serious fuel issue in the world. For India, too, this situation is concerning. The war has impacted our trade routes. With this, the routine supply of petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers has been affected,” Modi said.
He did assure that the Central government is tracking the rapidly evolving situation and taking steps to limit its impact on India.
