India has reiterated its support for dialogue and diplomacy to end the Iran-US war, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar calling for de-escalation and restraint. The government is focused on ensuring the security of 10 million Indians living in West Asia and maintaining energy security and unimpeded trade flows.
Jaishankar stated that the Iranian side had requested permission on February 28 for three ships in the region to dock at Indian ports, which was granted on March 1. He also expressed concern over attacks on merchant shipping, as Indian nationals constitute a large proportion of crews manning such vessels.
The External Affairs Minister assured the House that every effort is being made to facilitate the return of stranded Indian nationals, including transit passengers, and to ensure their safety in the region. He also spoke about the three Iranian warships that were in regional waters in connection with an International Fleet Review and a multi-nation exercise hosted by India last month.
Jaishankar provided a detailed rundown of the advisories issued by Indian embassies in Israel, Iran, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia between February 28 and March 8, and said the external affairs ministry has set up a dedicated special control room to monitor the situation and respond to queries.
