Amid tensions in West Asia, EAM Jaishankar discusses situation with Iranian and Israeli counterparts
| 2024-04-15
EAM S Jaishankar had telephonic conversations with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts on April 14, 2024. (File)
EAM Jaishankar stresses on need to exercise restraint
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts on Sunday (April 14, 2024) and discussed the situation in West Asia. The telephonic conversations came barely 24 hours after Iran attacked Israel by launching drones and missiles.
In his conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, EAM Jaishankar also took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries, a cargo ship seized by the Iranian military on Saturday.
"Spoke to Iranian FM. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch," EAM Jaishankar said on social media platform X.
He informed about his conversation with the Israeli Foreign Minister in a separate X post. "Just concluded a conversation with Israel FM Israel Katz. Shared our concern at the developments yesterday. Discussed the larger regional situation. Agreed to stay in touch," he wrote.
In a major escalation of long-running tensions between the two nations, Iran launched an unprecedented attack against Israel late on Saturday (April.14, 2024), launching nearly 300 drones and missiles. This was in retaliation for a suspected Israeli air strike on an Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus, Syria a few weeks ago which left seven personnel of the Iranian Republican Guards, including two generals, dead.
The Israeli military later said that 99 percent of the drones and missiles had been intercepted.
EAM Jaishankar's telephonic conversations came hours after India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement expressing serious concern over the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran and calling for immediate de-escalation and exercise of restraint. It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region, the MEA said.
According to the MEA, the evolving situation is being closely monitored and India's embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community.
"We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region. We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy," the MEA stated.
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